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J'i 



THE 
EARLY HISTORY 

OF THE 



TOWN OF ELLICOTT, 

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTS, N. Y. 



"/■ « 



COMPILED LARGELY FROM THE 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS 



OF THE AUTHOR, 



GILBERT W. HAZELTINE, M. D. 



JAMESTOWN, N. Y : 

JOURNAL PRINTING COMPANY, 

1887. 




4-\A^ 



TO 

MRS. MARY NORTON PRENDERGAST. 

THIS VOLUME SPEAKS OP THE BRAVE, HEROIC, AND SELF-SACRrPICINO 

EARLY SETTLERS OF THE TOWN OP ELLICOTT, WHO SHARED 

THE TOILS OF THE WILDERNESS WITH THOSE NOBLE 

AND GENEROUS POUNDERS OP JAMESTOWN, 

JAMES AND AGNES THOMPSON PRENDEEOAST, 

THE PARENTS OF THAT EQUALLY NOBLE AND GENEROUS SON, 

ALEXANDER THOMPSON PRENDERGAST, 

YOUR LATE HUSBAND, SO SUDDENLY TAKEN AWAY, AND OP YOUR ONLY 

SON, SO GREATLY BELOVED, AND SO DEEPLY MOURNED 

BY THE CITIZENS OF JAMESTOWN; THE LATE 

HON. JAMES PRENDERGAST, 

TAKEN IN THE FLOWER OF HIS MANHOOD, THE LAST OP HIS FAMILY. 
TO YOU, THE LOVING WIPE, 
THE AFFECTIONATE MOTHER AND GENEROUS FRIEND, THE GfRIEF 
STRICKEN WATCHER AMONG THE TOMBSTONES, WHERE 
ALL OP YOUR IDOLS LIE BURIED, I RESPECT- 
FULLY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME. 

THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 

What is the ratio justifica of this book ? Simply this. 
Our friends desired us to write it, and we wrote it ; the Jour- 
nal Printing ComiDuny printed it, and Merz put on the covers. 
It is a home made book for home use ; and the critics, if any, 
we expect to be to the manor born. 

Our friends will justify themselves by saying, — "we de- 
sired to rescue the memory of our grandfathers and our 
grandmothers, and our parents, from the deep pall of obliv- 
ion which was fast settling down upon them, — and the history 
of their homes in the wilderness, in wliich they labored so 
hard to secure blessings which we alone have lived to reap 
and to enjoy. The hardy, generous, and in many instances 
gifted men and women, who lived and labored in what are 
now our busy streets, have left enduring monuments of their 
united labor, but the records of their individual selves, have 
been meagre and unsatisfactory. The records imprinted on 
the memories of a few yet living — whose boyhood days were 
spent in Jamestown, before it had become an incor[)()rated 
village, have been found, of all remaining sources of informa- 
tion, the most reliable and satisfactory. There are still living 
here a number of persons who became citizens from 1825 to 
1835, wdiose memory of events has yielded material assistance 
by sustaining and strengthening the memory of the writer, — 
by what they tliemselves knew of, and had frequently lieard 
related, of the early settlers. As tlie years roll on, their 
deeds would soon have been forgotten, if the extended 
sketches we have caused to be made by one wlio was an on- 
looker, had not been written and givento the world." This is 
the answer you elicit from our friends. 



VI PKEFACE. 

It has been our attempt to record the names and the deeds 
of the fathers, surrounded by all that constituted their homes 
— as we once saw them, and as, to-day, they are vividly de- 
picred in our memory. We have labored to place before you, 
their children and successors — pictures of their persons, — 
their homes, — and their surroundings in the long ago when 
Jamestown was a hamlet in ithe wilderness — when the Pearl 
City was the Eapids — when instead of the busy hum of a 
hundred factories and a thousand industries, and a city of 
comfortable homes and palace residences there were a few 
lowly dwellings, and the hmn was of the saw mill and the 
busy boatman by day, and the howl of the wolf or the scream 
of the wild cat in the Big Fly, by night. The homes, 
the industries, the scenes here depicted, were to our noble 
but humble-minded fathers the all of human life — they 
bounded the horizon of their being — they were the environ- 
ments of their existence. Memory had embalmed them in 
tlie hearts of their children, now few remaining, old and fast 
jxissing away. What is known of tliese Pioneers among the 
children's children, the present generation, is weak and shad- 
owy, and is yearly becoming more and more dim, and at the 
end of anotlier decade — even within that short period— folk 
lore would have claimed the little remaining of the memory 
of tlie early settlers. We interpose this feeble book to prevent 
such a disaster. We present it as a rough monument to 
their memories — their homes — their deeds — their lives. 

Although conscious that we have used every effort, 
which could be reasonably expected, to accurately describe 
the scenes and events herein depicted, yet the invariable ex- 
perience of others should teach us not to claim entire exemp- 
tion from those errors and imperfections always found in 
works of biography and history. History has been defined 
" An approximation towards truth." We cannot believe that 
this definition even approximates to a true one,- nevertheless 
it may embody a shadow of a truth, for every thing human is 
marked by imperfections. 



PEEFACB. VU 

We are sorry to iidmit that the reader will find in this 
book a number of typographical errors, largely from the mis- 
placing of types by the compositor. Two of us read the proofs. 
We were not expert proof readers, but we were of the opinion 
that if we were careful we would be able to correct all mis- 
takes, and are now, when it is too late to rectify them, not 
only mortified but astounded that we have overlooked so 
many. We have prepared a table of errata — but believing 
that such tables are seldom consulted by the reader we have 
concluded to omit it. We also discover the following errors 
of importance, which we trust that each one who purchases 
the book will correct before he attempts to read it. By so 
doing, they may save themselves the display of iinnecessary 
temper, and confer a great favor on the author and pub- 
lisher. 

On page 13, eightli line from the bottom, please note 
that A. T. Preudergast was born in 1809 — not in 1807. Com- 
positor says he cannot tell our 7 from our 9, and places the 
blame on our penmanship. 

On page IIG, eleventh line from the top, the sense is de- 
stroyed until you have manufactured that period after I)ix 
into a comma. 

On page 131, eighth line from top, if you will convert 
that now into a not — the sentence will convey to you just the 

opposite meaning. 

«0n page 237 we speak of Lieut. Eiualdo Jones and E:ch- 
ard Jones as the sons of Ellick and Louisa (Walkup) Jones. 
They were the sons of Ellick and Harriet (l)e Jean) Jones. 

On page 401, we state that Wm. Landon married Jane 
Palmiter. That won't do; it is not true. Broadhead married 
Jane, and Landon married her cousin, Hannah Spencer. 

On page 427 the compositor makes us state that Robert 
Miles "was a Frewsburg man/' How it was possible to cou- 
yert Sugar Grove into Frewsburg we cannot say, but we long 
ago found out that the types and the Devil can do wliatever 
they undertake . Robert Miles lived near Sugar Grove, on the 
flat this side, which for many years after his death was the 



via PREFACE. 

home of his son Frederick Miles. Robert Miles died there in 
the year 1810. 

On page 413 — Types make the statement that Eev. Ab- 
ner Barlow married Polly Strunk in the year 1723. The 
reader will please shorten the time one liundred years and 
change that 7 into an 8 — 1823. 

On page 441 Joseph appears where it should be Jasper. 



With these corrections we believe the most critical reader 
will find our statements truthful, atleast in all matters of im- 
portance. 

T'he sources from which we have compiled this vol- 
ume are, first and most important, our own recollections, 
which seemingly to us, are as vivid as when the events trans- 
pired ; and these for the most part strengthened by the recol- 
lections of others. Of those things beyond our remembrance 
the historic memorandums of our father, Dr. Labau Hazel- 
tine, and of Abner Hazel tuie, who were on lookers and par- 
ticipants in the affairs of Ellicott from 1814 and '15 up to the 
times of their death — and of papers relating to the early trans- 
actions in this locality, and whicli for many years have been 
in our possession. Many of tliese early papers, some of which 
date back to L812, relate to transictions not always creditable. 
From them another, unacquainted with those early days, 
might conscientiously write a history which would differ ma- 
terially from the one we here present, and to tlie seriouft in- 
jury of otherwise worthy early settlers of this country. Before 
this book is given to the public, we sliall do ourself the honor 
of placing those old j)apers where Alexander placed the notes 
— and thus blot out tlie 1 ist evidence of transactions which 
belong not to history, and should have been forgotten long 

^Ve acknowledge having received important material 
assistance m aid of publishing tliis volume — and as further 
contributio'ns are still hoped for, and as a few have desired 
that their names should not be mentioned here, it lias been 
concluded best to make these acknowledgments at some future 



rPKEFACE. VS. 

'time, after all contributions in aid of the undertaking have 
Ijeen received. . 

We are indebted to N. Brown for a chapter on Ohio 
river trade from flat boats, of which, if not the originator he 
has become the " autocrat." And to Elijah Bishop, for a val- 
uable co.itribution to our early history of the Methodist Epis- 
copal c.mrch; and what is more, for his constant verbal addi- 
tions to our items of early history, gleaned from his own 
historical scraps and memorandums, which are a large and 
valuable collection, and which we trust Mr. Bishop will place 
at the disposal of the Prendergast Library for future use. Mr. 
Bishop spent much time and labor in preparing an article for 
our newspaper series, on the history of temperance societies, 
wdiich we liave been compelled to omit from tliis volume. To 
Judge Marvin we are indebted for constant advice, which we 
have followed in i)repariug this volume. He has constantly 
kept before us that tlie principal men, active in the settle- 
ment and building up of Jamestown, were noble, self-sacrific- 
ing men, and that there was so much that was good and 
generous and noble to be written of them, that their few faults 
and mistakes were not w^orthy, for the most part, even of 
mention. We most heartily thank him for the advice and 
encouragement he has so heartily given. 

In our own opinion anecdotes relating to the early settlers 
of the country are exceedingly valuable, in illustrating the 
condition of the country and its inhabitants, in those early 
days. We have considered them useful in aiding us to shade 
up the pictures we have attemi)ted to draw of the country in 
its wilderness days, and therefore have introduced them 
freely. Another one has said to us : " You have treated 
your subject philosophically, poetically, ethically, satirically, 
criticallv, metaphysicallv and humorously, and at tunes sen- 
.tenuously, and vou ought to be satisfied.' ' We liope each one 
will find sometlnng that will accord with his taste. Such i\s 
it is, we send it forth to them for whom it w^as written— hope- 
ino- thev will find therein much to commend and but little to 
condemn. 



CONTENTS. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE PRENDERGAST FAMILY. 

Remarks on Early aud Local History.-Travels of the Preoder^ 
gasts from Pittstown, N. Y., to Tennessee, and from Thence 
to Chautauqua Cn.-Black Tom.-Thomas Prendenjast Buys 
a Farm.-The Family Winter in Canada.-Their Purchase 
of Lands on Chautauqua Lake.-The Stray Horses and 
James Prendergast's Search for Them.-Sees the Rapids 
and Visits Kiantone.- James Returns to Pittstown in 1806 — 
Agnes Thompson.— Marries in the Spring of 1807 —His 
Brother Mathew Buys Land for Him in 1808.-AIexander 
Born in February, 1809.-James Prendergast again Visits 
Chautauqua in 1809 with John Blowers.-Visits the Raoids' 
with William Bemus.-His Ride and His Reflections on the 
Lake and Outlet.-Emigrates with His Family to Chautau- 
qua m I810.-Moves into his Log House at the Rapids in 
1811._Burmng of the House and Mills. -Wm Forbes 
and aNew House.-Dr. Laban Hazeltine.-The Blowers 
House. -^ 

Page 

CHAPTER n. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY, ETC. 

The Labor Question, Socialism and Anarchy.-First Town 
Meeting in the County.- Division into Chautauqua and 
. .T ^'^"^ Ea'-ly Settlers in the North and West Parts 
of the County.-First County Officers.-Buildin<^ and Burn- 
mg of Prendergast's Mills.-Joseph Ellicott.-Town of Elli- 
cott Organized in 1812.-Coming in of the Early Settlers - 
Brown buys Fish Hooks and Loses his Dog.-Cotton Fac- 



CONTENTS. XI 

tory.— Darius and John Dtxter.— Slippery Rock and Dex- 
terville — Binjamin Ross.— Stealing Lumber —Work's First 
Grist Mill.— Big John Bale.— The Burial of the Sprake 
Child.— The Rapids Caused by a Natural Dam.— Chautau- 
qua Lake and Outlet a Highway in the Last Century.— 
Coraplanter Goes to Du Quesne — Jadauquah, the Indian 
Name for Chautauqua.— William Bemus Page 



19 



CHAPTER III. 

EARLY MEANS OF TRAVELING. 

The Early Settlers the Descendents of the Puritans.— The First 
Court.— The First Case Tried.— Capt. Jack —Joseph Akin. 
—The Durham Boatmen.— First Town Meeting in 1813 at 
Akin's.— Village of Stillwater.— The First Roads.— James- 
town Located in a Swamp.— Early Topography.— Early 
Fishing.— Roads Leading From Jamestown.— A. F. Allen 
as Pathmaster.— Sarcasm of History.— Early Navigation.— 
Miles' Road and Canoe —Durham Boats.— Horse Boat.— 
Schooner Mink.— Capt. Carpenter —First Mail' Coach.— 
Boys as Passengers —First Steamboat.— Plumb and his 
Friends Take a Ride.— Other Early Steamboats.— The Firing 
of a Canon Astonishes the Native Boys Page 47 



CHAPTER IV. 

SOME EARLY INDUSTRIES. 

Present Utility and Future Destiny —Judge Prendergast's Yard. 
—Allen's Wagons and Cow Yard.— Barrett and Barker Meet 
With a Mishap and are Avenged.— How the Village was 
Named.— The Junto.— Cloth Dressing and Cloth Manufac- 
turing.— Daniel Hazeltine.— Mr. and Mrs. Hiram ICinney.— 
Edwin Hazeltine.— Henry C. Arnold.— George Cnskey.— D. 
H. Grandiu.— Manufacture of Hats.— Pier, Freeman, Sayles, 
Strickland, Rice, Birker and other Hatters.— Furs and Pelt- 
ries—A Bear Steals Johnson's Hog, which Rice and Hazel- 
tine did not Kill.— General Harvey's (Hiubby —His Capture 
and his Escape.— Farrett Climbs a Tree.— Tiffany Informs 
Harvey how to Make a Bear Squeal.— Military Tactics.— 
Three Bears Killed and One Taken Prisoner Page 79 



Hi 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V. 

EARLY INDUSTRIES. 

Rapid Advance of Arts and Sciences —Tanning. -Barrett Bar- 
ker, Grout, Stevens, Kellogg, Havens, Ransom, Foote' Fen- 
ton, Hutton, Bradley and others.-He Fell into the 'lime 
Vat and was Mad.— Ashrt-ies.-Scofield, the Pearler makes 
across Gun.-Boys Cheat in Trade -Gen. Harvey m.kes 
bteel Bows, and Freeman makes a Speech.- Chipmnnks Be- 
come Sc.rce.-Boys Cheat in Game and their Motliers Stop 
their Grub. -Logging Bees.-Manufacturiug Black Salts - 
Pottery -Fenton.-Whittemore.-Whittemore Trades Milk 
Pans for a Calf. -Axe Helves and Ox Yokes -Elvin Hunt 
-Joseph Smiley.-Jeremiah GrilBth and Family Move into 
the County.-A Canoe Journey to Franklin.-Swaps Maple 
Sugar for Corn.-Saddles and Harness.-Knight3.-Silas 
Shearman Covers a Ball. -John P. Shearman.-Dan 8 
Williams Gives a Young Doctor a Horse .Page 109 

CHAPTER VI. 

EARLY INDUSTRIES— CONTINUED. 

Memory.-Dr. Foote Purchases the Reserved 8ection.-A Notch 
ou Fourth Street.-Blacksmiths.- Daniels, C-.mpbell Port- 
man T. W. and C. R. Harvey, Lyman Crane.-Other 
Blacksn.iths.-Necessity of, in a New Country -Scythe 
Snaths, etc.-Garfield, Wood, Cobb, Broadhead, Breed 
Denslow and others.-Chair Making -Palmiter, Cunning- 
ham, Morgan, Bell, Flintr, Warner and others.-Cabinet 
Ware.-Keyes, Breeds, Todd.- Obituary of John C. Breed 
-The Keyes Family.- Mill Wrights.-Elijah Bishop - 
Crippen Sleeps when the House is Burning. - Phetteplace — 
Ben. NichoLs.-Fanning Mills -Walter Stevens. Reynolds 
-Wagons. — Welch, Burlin, Forbes, Warner, Allen.— 
Tailors. -Dinnin, Harrington, John.scn, Mason. -Shoe Mak- 
ers.-Chestnuts.-Strap Oil and Crates.— The Crate Law — 
Shearman, Carey, Merrill, An.old, Hazzard, Curtis Wood 
-Carpenters. -Coopers. -Shingle Weaving. -Axes and 
ildge rools.-Gunsmithing.— Machine Shops Page 133 

CHAPTER VII. 

NATHAN brown's CONTRIBUTION. 

The Sash Factory.-Pail Factory.-Their Origin and their Own- 



CONTENTS. Xni 

ers. — Mr. Brown's Trips on the Ohio River, and the Sale of 
Jamestown Manufactures from Flat Boats Page 185 

CHAPTER VIII. 

HOTELS AND DISTILLERIES. 

Hotels Precede Civilization. — The Fenton Tavern. — A View of 
Jamestown from. — Indian Burying Ground. — Digging the 
Factory Race.— A New Kinci of Forgery. — Building of Tav-^'^''^ 
erns in I8I0.— The Allen Tavern.— The Ballard.— The Kid- 
der.— The First Dtince in Jamestown. — The Blind IIor.se. — 
Allen and his Clerk from Wadsbery. — Solomon Jones Rents 
the Allen Tavern. — The Cass Tavern. — The Drunken Squire. 
—The Effigy.— Wm Hall Buys the Kidder Frame.— W. D. 
Shaw Buys the .Jones Tavern — Big Fires on Main Street. — 
Allen House — Bale Stabs Nat Smith. — Seneca Two Kettles 
Cuts the Dog's Tad Too Short. — Nicknames. — Van Velsor 
Triangle. — Elliek Jones and Family. — First Meat Market — 
Willard Rice's Temperruce House. — The Writing Master 
Marries the Landlord's Daughter. — Industry and Wealth. — 
The Old Distilleries.— A Literal Laying Out Page 20G 

CHAPTER IX. 

THE EARLY NEWSPAPERS. 

Newj-papers the American College. — The Newspaper the Teacher 
of Evils. — Early Newspapers. — .lamestowm Journal, — Adol- 
phus Fletcher. — The First Issue. — J. W. Fletcher, Frank 
Palmer, Coleman E. Bishop and other Publishers and Ed- 
itors of the Journal.— Daily Journal. — Chautauqua Repub- 
lican. — Morgan Bater. — Lewis C. Todd. — Liberty Star. — 
Northern Citizen. — Henry A Smith. — Undercurrent. — 
Asaph Rhodes. — The Chautauqua Democrat — A. B. 
Fletcher Page 235 

CHAPTER X 
Boyhood .Memories — Dr. Laban Hazeitine — His Vi.sit in 1814. 
— Comes with His Family in 1815. — Incidents of the 
Joiirney. — Indigenous .>iedicines. — His Family. — Anecdotes. 
— Other Early Physicians. — Early Pharmacies. — First Drug 
Stores. Page 350 

CHAPTER XI. 
Allegory of Human Life. — Inns of Court. — Vokinteersin 1861. — 
Early Patriots. — Early Lawyers. — S. A. Brown, Abner Ha- 



^IV CONTENTS. 

zeltinc, Joseph Waite, Franklin H. Waite, Geo. W. Tew, 
Richard P. Marvin, Abner Lewis, E. F. Warrrn, Lorenzo 
Morris, Madison Burnell, Orsell Cook ' Pao-e 379 

CHAPTER Xn. 

Organization of the Early Churches.— Church Quarrels and Di- 
visions.— Mormonism in Jamestown.— Abolitionism Page 311 

CHAPTER XHL 

The Bad School Districis.— Log School Houses.- First Schools 
in Jamestown —Thomas Walkup and the Bird Nest Rob- 
bers.— The Pine Street School House —Early Teachers.— 
Juty Smith —Old Put Takes a Ride.— The Academy.— lis 
Tear^hers and its Pupils —The Jamestown Academy.— The 
Quaker School p.j„g 3gQ 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Early Merchants —J. & M. Prendergast, Richard Hiller, Silas 
Tiffany, Jehial Tiffany, Samuel Barrett, J. E. Bu'dlong, 
Henry Baker, Alviu Plumb. Elisha Hall, William h' 

^""^ Page 370 

CHAPTER XV. 

William Forbes.— Gen. Hon.ce Allen.— Jesse Smith.— Phineas 
Palmiter, Sen.— Cyrus Fish— Milton Sherwiu. — Abram 
Winsor.~S. B. Winsor.— Augustus Moon.— Amos Fergu- 
son.— The Strunks.— Simmons.— Judson Southland. —Uriah 
Bentley.— Woodward.— Halliday.—Ahrou Forbes.— Russcl 
D. and Warner D. Shaw —Oliver Shearman.— Joseph and 
Eliakim Garticld.-Elisha A.len.- A. F. Allen.— Dascum 
Allen.— Solomon Jones, Jr.— English Families.— Swedes. — 
Carroll. --Geo. W. Fenton.— John Frew.— xMyers— John 
Rus.sell. — John Owen.— Kiantone.— Jo.seph Akin —Ben j. 
Jones. — Ebenezer Cheney.— Nelson E. Cheney. —James 
Hall.— Wm. Sears.— Ebenezer Davis— Samuel Hall— Cha- 
pin Hall.— Jasper Marsh.— Ezbai Kidder.— Poland.— Dr. 
Kennedy.— Erastus Marvin.— Robert Falconer.— Nathaniel 
Fenton.— Elias Tracy Page 395 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Chautauqua Bank.— Arad Joy.— A. D. and T. W. Patchin.— 
Robert Newland. — The Museum Society. — Fourth of 



CONTENTS. XV 

July, 1860. — Wm. Broadhesid. — Early Burials.— Ceme- 
teries _ Page 453 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Semi Centeunial of the Chautauqua Co. Agricultural Society. — 
Origin of Marvin Park. — Dedication of the Log Hcuse to 
the Early Settlers. — Chautauqua Undivided Novp and For- 
ever.— Addresses of Dr. G. W. Hazeltine and of Judge E. 
P. Marvin.— Centennial in 1936 Page 476 



MEMORIALS OF 

PAGE 

Oov. Reuben Eaton Fenton 498 

John Adams Hall 508 

Gen. Thomas W. Ilarvey 516 

Alexander T. Prendergast _ 525 

Hon. James Prendergast 536 

Concl u sion 549 



CHAPTER I, 



Remarks ox Local and upon Early History. — The 
Settlement of the Prendergast Family in C'hau- 
TAUQUA. — James Prendergast finds the Horses. 
— Marries in 1807. — Sketch of Agnes (Thompson) 
Prendergast. — Birth of Alexander. — Settle- 
ment AT THE Rapids in 1810. 



XT lias been frequently stated that one of the most 
■^ difficult and thankless of tasks is to write a local his- 
tory, and that the difficuUv and thanklessness are in 
"inverse ratio," to the size of the locality, and the 
number of inhabitants. This statement must be cor- 
rect. In giving- the Idstory of a large extent of coun- 
tr3'',or of a nation,or of great eyents, the people in masses 
are spoken of; Init in a small town or yillage, each in- 
dividual rises into importance, and those for whom the 
work was produced are extremely liable to be dissatis- 
fied and condemn the whole, because especial friends 
are not given a more prominent place. 

These pages are largely the author's own recollec- 
tions strengthened by the recollections of others whom 
he has consulted, and by the statements contained in 



3 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

pages of manuscript written by, and historic records 
made by his father, the late Dr. Laban Hazehine. 

The task was undertaken at the urgent soHcitation 
of many, who desired the facts herein contained to be 
preserved. Tlie papers from which this vohime is 
partly compiled w^ere first given to the public through 
the columns of the Jamestmvii Journal, and by the yet 
more urgent solicitation of those for whom they were 
prepared are now gathered into tliis volume. 

It is not expected that the facts herein contained 
will be of equal interest to all wdio are now the resi- 
dents of the locations mentioned. They were gathered 
for the descendants of those who subdued the wilder- 
ness that once covere<l these f^iir fields ; who endured 
the trials and privations of pioneer life, and who 
founded the surrounding villages, and reared the first 
rude structures of our beautiful city, in which so many 
within a few short years have made their homes. To the 
descendants of these hardy pioneers this volume will 
prove a choice legacy ; they will read the most trivial 
anecdote, or the most unimportant circumstance, with 
an interest that the new comer can not be ex23ected to 
entertain, for on every page, in all of its words, it speaks 
of grand-fathers and grand-mothers whom they vene- 
rate. And yet to those who have lately taken up their 
residence in this active little city or have become own- 
ers of farms reclaimed from a primeval forest by those 
of whom we herein speak, should feel a slight interest 
in knowing who first claimed as home the places they 
now occupy. 

The title of this book, " Early History of the Town 
of Ellicott," awakens thoughts to be mentioned. 
Seventy-five years ago a dense forest, the growth of 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 3 

a^es, enslirouded these beautiful tiekls and these Imsy 
marts of trade. We herein speak of a few occurrences 
during those years ; of tlie sul^luing of the wilderness, 
and of the making of this locality a fitting resting 
place for the arts of civilized life. 

This country was not entirely unknown to civi- 
lized man during the last century, for how many cen- 
turies previous to that, this was the happy, joyful home 
of civilized or uncivilized man we know not ; for even 
here are the works of the Mound builder, and the evi- 
dences of that former civilization, of which all history 
is silent. What we do know of these head waters of 
the Ohio during the 17th and l<Sth centuries, either 
traditional or historical, would make a volume much 
larger and to many of greater interest than this. 
Many of the most interesting facts, not only of science 
but of history, are those of which we are profoundly 
ignorant. 

We can truthfully say of this whole country that 
the spirit of civilization has conquered an empire in a 
region that had been divested of a former power and 
importance. We find ourselves on all sides surrounded 
by dumb yet eloquent chronicles of a former age and 
civilization. We are taught the general fact, but noth- 
ing of the people and their condition. The crumbling 
gigantic ruins of Central America teach us as clearly 
as those of ancient Egypt and of Greece of an ad- 
vanced civilization ; but no more clearly than do the 
more humble mounds and relics in our own county. 
We are prone to speak of ourselves as the inhabitants 
of a new world ; and yet we on all sides find tlie most 
sure and unanswerable evidences that we live in one 
that is old. We clear away the forests and speak fa- 
miliarly of subduing a "• virgin soil," and yet the plow 



THE EAKLY HISTOKY OF 



upturns the skulls of a race whose history is lost. Our 
advent here is but one of the changes of time. 



As the sons of William Prenclergast Sen., were 
prominent among the earlier settlers of Chautauqua 
county, and one of them, James Prendergast, was the 
founder of om* city, a few words about their first settle- 
ment in the wilderness of Chautauqua will not be 
misplaced. 

William Prendergast Sen., the father, was born in 
Waterford, Ireland, in 1727. He emigrated to America 
and settled in Pawling, Dutchess county, N. Y., before 
he had reached the age of manhood. He remained 
there several years, and married Mehitable Wing, who 
was born in America of Scotch parents. Seven boys 
and six girls were the fruits of this union. All of these 
save one, attained the age of manhood and woman- 
hood, and the most of them lived to old age. 

James the 5th and Jediah the 6th son, studied 
medicine in Dutchess county and afterwards in 
Rensselaer county, to which William Prendergast Sen., 
with the most of his family had removed at the break- 
ing out of the Revolutionary war. James Prendergast 
in 1794-95 made an extended tour into the south and 
west, and had many thrilling adventures with the In- 
dians. He practiced medicine a short time in Nash- 
ville, Tenn., and then pushed on into the then Spanish 
country of Northern Louisiana. Soon after the battle 
of Mad River he met the young chief Tecumseh, with 
whom he swapped rifles, the Indian getting the best of 
the bargain. He intended to pass up the Mississippi 
to the lakes, but finding this impossible, he returned 
home. A year or so later his Ijrothers Jediah and 
Matthew, made a trip as far west as Nashville, Tenn,, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 5 

with the view of finding a good location for all of the 
families to settle, and in 1803 Thomas Prendergast and 
William Bemus, a son-in-law of William Prendergast 
Sen., made a trip into Canada on the same errand, 
and also came to Chautauqua county. After the return 
of these exploring parties, each was anxious to settle 
in the country they had visited, but the Tennessee 
party carried the day, and immediate preparation 
was made for the emigration. 

It had been agreed that wherever a majority 
should conclude to go all should go ; that they would 
live and die together, as in patriarchal times. William 
Prendergast Sen., was then 78 years old, his wafe ten 
years younger, but they were in as good health as they 
could expect at that age and full of courage ; they 
said to the children, wherever you go we will go with 
you, live with you, and where you are there shall be 
our graves. 

In the spring of 1805 the emigrants left tlieir home 
in Pittstown in five canvass covered wagons, and a 
heavy travelling carriage, for the older and weaker of 
the party. These six vehicles were drawn by eighteen 
stout and valuable horses ; while en route $1200 was 
offered for one span with harness, which was promptly 
refused. The emigrants numbered twenty-nine per- 
sons, including Tom, a favorite negro slave, an heir 
loom of the family. The old patriarch William and 
his wife Mehitable were accompanied by four sons, 
viz : William, .Jediah and Thomas with their wives 
and children, James who was single, William Bemus 
who was married to Mary Prendergast the eldest 
daughter, and their children, Susannah Prendergast, 
the widow of Oliver Whiteside, and her children, and 
two unmarried daughters. It must have been a cour- 



b THE EAKLY HISTOKY OF 

ageoiis undertaking, for the best of the roads were poor 
in those days ; nevertheless, they made their way by 
the nearest route possible to Pittsburgh. There they 
placed their horses and wagons on flat boats and pro- 
ceeded down the river to the Falls of the Ohio. From 
thence they again proceeded in their wagons to their 
place of destination in Tennessee. As they travelled 
across the state of Kentucky and through northern 
Tennessee, the majority of the party became more and 
more dissatisfied with the country and its inhabitants. 
They were permitted to see slavery as it then existed 
in the south, and it displeased them, and the manners 
and customs of the whites was equally displeasing, and 
the whole country soon, in their eyes, became poor and 
worthless. Several of the party had sore eyes, and 
many of them began to show the effects of the malari- 
ous climate. In fact, it n'lay l)e said that all expressed 
a desire to return, but Dr. Jediah, who had tenaciously 
insisted on coming south instead of to Chautauqua as 
desired by Benius and his brother Thomas. Bemus 
now declared he would not be bound by his pledge, if 
they concluded to remain there, but would return 
north and settle on Chautauqua lake. Thomas de- 
clared that he would prefer lOO acres that he knew of 
near the cross roads in Cliautauqua to 1,000 acres there, 
and strongly advocated a return. Tom declared '"Hhat 
there were too many niggers there for him^ and if they 
stayed there he should rund away to Plttstown^ shuah^ 
This decided the matter and all voted to return except 
Jediah, who did not oppose M'hat he was already con- 
vinced would be the result. 

They were soon on their long, wear}^ return jour- 
ney ; passing by the best ascertained route acrost Ken- 
tucky to the Ohio river, and thence in a northwesterly 



THE TOAVX OF ELLICOTT. 



direction through Oliio, passing- through what was 
then known as the Western Reserve to Meadville, Pa., 
and from thece north to Presque Isle, now Erie. The 
next day in passing over the ford of 20 mile creek they 
lamed one of their most valuable horses, but continued 
their journey until they had passed the present village 
of Quincy, in Chautauqua county. Thomas desired 
them to make a halt before a log house owned by a 
settler named Farmsworth. He had been there before 
and now in his mind a serious but as yet unspoken re- 
solution had l^een reached. He exclaimed with much 
energy; "I have travelled far enough. Our lame 
horses need rest, and I inform you all that I intend 
here to make my future home." He disappeared into 
the house, but returned in a few minutes and declared 
to his astonished relatives that he had made the man 
an offer for his interest in the location and that his 
offer had been accepted, and that he should go no 
further. Bemus declared he should remain with Thomas 
for he was anxious to gaze on what he hoped to make his 
home at the narrows of Chautauqua lake, altliough he 
feared it was then too late to secure it. Tom, the slave, 
declared he was glad to get back into a free state, and 
that he should -'rund aioay from Masser William and 
stay with Jlasse?' To7n, shuahy 

Up to this time there had been no agreement to 
settle in Chautauqua. Wm. Prendergast Sen., was of 
the two inclined to settle in Canada, but now was a 
chance to carry out the agreement made in Pittstown, 
and the decision of Tom to rund away, again settled 
the matter. 

Wm. Bemus found a place not far distant, near a 
Mr. Bells, in the town of Westfield, where he could re- 
main during the winter. He soon, however, became 



o THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

owner of the coveted tract on the east side of Chautau- 
qua lake, onto which he removed early in the follow- 
ing spring ; he also purchased a ftirm on the west side 
opposite, which became the home of his son Thomas 
Bemus. 

The fall of 1805 and winter of 1806 was the time 
of great famine among the few settlers of Chautauqua. 
Provisions were extremely scarce and difficult to be 
procured at any price. It was arranged therefore that 
the remainder of the party should proceed to Canada 
where provisions were plenty, for the winter and return 
to Chautauqua in the spring and purchase lands. 
Leaving William Jr., and James to prospect for a good 
location during the winter the remainder departed for 
Canada. The brothers William Jr., and James spent 
much of the winter, having a span of horses at their 
command, in viewing the country, and finally made 
choice of about 3,500 acres on the west side of the 
lake a few miles from Mayville. In the spring before 
the party had returned from Canada, James made 
them a visit. His report was satisfactory, and he was 
requested to proceed to Batavia and enter the lands 
at the land office. Having performed this duty he 
with his brother William, who also had come on for a 
visit, again returned to Chautauqua. The rest soon 
followed except Dr. Jediah, who had entered into a 
profitable practice of his profession and concluded to 
remain for the present in Canada. When the families 
arrived William and James had a log house in readi- 
ness for them. James remained with his father and 
brother William during that season and helped them 
to make a clearing and get in some crops. William 
Prendergast had now with him his two sons William 
and James, and the redoutable swarth skinned Thorn- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 



9 



as, who concluded he should 'hiot rund aioay, shuah;'' 
several span of horses and plenty of implements with 
which to subdue the forest and to commence agricul- 
ture. Several experienced choppers and loggers were 
at once employed, and in a remarkably short time 
blackened fields, and a wilderness of stumps appeared 
where but a short time previous had been a wilder- 
ness of trees. 

Was there a dh-ecting Providence that induced 
James Prendergast to remain, as a dutiful son should, 
and assist his aged father during that spring and sum- 
mer of 1806? A slight circumstance directed and 
colored his whole future life and of his descendents 
and of thousands of others, then unborn. We do not 
stretch our imaginations or distort the facts, when we 
express the conviction that James Prendergast was 
Providentially chosen to be the pioneer of the Pearl 
City ; and shall we cease to believe that the same Un- 
seen Hand is yet guiding our pathway ? 

A span of horses which had attended all their 
wanderings in the wilderness, and to which they were 
greatly attached, although they had ceased to be valu- 
able, were turned loose in the woods to pick their own 
living, and if possible to recuperate from their crippled 
condition. During the season they wandered away 
but no efibrt was made to find them, for it was con- 
cluded that they would finally return. Tom said he 
''knowed they would shuah; they wouldnH rund away 
no quicker as he would, thade come hack shuah, if the 
wolves haduH eaten them upr During the latter part 
of the summer the horses had been seen near the lower 
end of the lake, and soon after James made prepara- 
tions to follow and reclaim them. Equipped with a 
knapsack of provisions he followed down the west side 



^^ THE EARLY HISTORY OF 



Of the lake, crossing at the narrows and staying with 
\\ m. Bemus the first night. Bemus infonned him 
that he knew of no white settlers east nearer than 
ivennedy's mills and that when he came to Miles' road 
he had better turn south and go to Marshes where he 
might get some intelligence of his horses. That he 
probably would find Indians fishing near Miles land- 
nig, and that there was an Indian camj^ at what was 
called the rapids. 

The next morning he continued his journey down 
the west side of the lake. Arriying at the Mil^s road 
he was undecided what course to follow, until provi- 
dentially he found the tracks of horses which he was 
able to follow for a considerable distance farther to 
the east and down the lake. He continued on and 
finally reached the head of the rapids near the pres- 
ent steam boat landing. He traversed the present site 
of .Jamestown, and was the first white man to visit 
the locality of which we have any record, except of 
soldiers passing down to Pittsburgh. His second 
night out was spent in an Indian camp not far from 
where L. B. Warner's residence now stands. 

He remained at the Rapids a day or lonoer 
fascinated with the location. The ^dense phie 
forest, the rapid stream whispered to him scenes con- 
nected with his future. His Indian friends intuitively 
seemed to understand his errand ; they undoubtedly 
had seen the horses and tried to tell him so. A party 
was about starting for Kiantone and he was invited to 
join them. Was not this another act of Providence, o-uid- 
ing him on his way ? He passed through the vast pinery 
of the Cbnewango valley. He saw the little clearings 
on the Conewango and the Kiantone on which the 
Senecas had planted their corn for centuries. Here 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 



11 



had been one of the granaries of the Six Nations, here 
had been one of their cities of safety. At Kiantone 
they pointed him to go north for his horses. He foUowed 
their direction and passed through those forests of enor- 
mous pines, the largest and the best any country ever 
produced. He found his horses on the grass meadows 
near what is now known as Rutledge, in Cattaraugus 
county, in line condition. They appeared to remem- 
ber him as an okl acquaintance, and were wilUng to 
return to their home. 

This memorable tramp of James Prendergast 
through the unbroken wilderness of southern Chau- 
tauqua, by chance if you will, took him through the 
two locations which were to be his future homes ; he 
found his horses, his fortune and his fame. All of his 
acts from that time indicate that the inspiring idea of 
founding a city had been generated ii^ his fertile brain. 
* " He had traversed unbroken miles of as magnificent 
pine forests as ever stood. He reasoned that the first 
and for many years the only remunerative industry of 
the settlers on these head waters must be lumbering ; 
that the first mills and best water privilege would in- 
evitably be the center of trade and population for the 
whole section. He therefore selected Cliautauqua lake 
as his mill pond, the nearest point to the lake where 
the outlet broke into a ripple, as the site of his mills 
and city. The prophetic sagacity of this location, as 
well as"^ the subsequent management of the enterprise, 
stamps James Prendergast as the most marked char- 
acter of this family of able men." 

At that time James had not sufficient means to 

carry through the extensive operations necessary to 

success, but he had already placed his heart in the 

keeping of one who would be able and willing to aid 

* See Prendergast Memorial, by Coleman E. Bishop. 



12 THE EARLY JIISTORY OF 

in so noble an undertaking. There was a noble 
hearted and wealthy Scotch lassie waiting for him in 
Old Rensselaer. James with his brain teeming 
with castles and saw mills and his bosom full of 
Nancy, made but short tarry after returning the horses, 
but speedily returned to Pittstown and was married to 
Agnes Thompson early in the spring of 1807, * " and 
the shamrock and thistle were again crossed on the 
family escutcheon." Tom said ''lie hwwed the old 
hosses would come hack; old hosses, like old iiiggers, 
never rund away. Too tough for the wolves; ivo aid come 
hack to see Tom, shuah.'''' 

Permit us here a passing notice of that gifted, 
noble woman, Agnes Thompson Prendergast— the fu- 
ture never to be forgotten "Aunt Nancy" of the village 
of Jamestown, the pride of her husband, the willing, 
generous helper "in all of his undertakings,— the saint 
whom the early inhabitants of Jamestown worshiped. 
Agnes Thompson was born in Galloway, Scotland, 
November 18th, 1771, and came to this country with her 
parents, who settled in Rensselaer Go. They were fore- 
handed and left her a handsome property. She 
was well educated, had tine literary taste, and' with all 
was a most notable housewife. When their log house 
home burned, where the railroad round-house now 
stands in 1811, among their serious losses were stores 
of linen, much of it of her own spinning, and there- 
fore highly prized ; and a large library of well 
selected books which she had brought' into the 
wilderness with her. All who ever knew her will re- 
member her, for her hospitality, her kindness, and her 
generosity, especially to the unfortunate, the needy, the 
sick, the distressed, and the dying. Oh, there was 
weeping on Main street in front of that lowly house 
* Coleman E. Bishop in Memorials. 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 13 

when Aunt Nancy, in 1836, stepped into the carriage 
which bore her from Jamestown forever. 

In tlie fall of 1800 James returned to Pittstown. 
Doubtless many pleasant evenings were spent with 
Agnes, recounting the hardships and the perils of the 
wilderness, and more than all the fairy land he had 
visited at the foot of Ja-dau-quah, the ancient medicine 
waters of the Senecas. That they would go there and 
make it their future home, build mills, grow up a vil- 
lage and peradventure a city. To accomplish this 
great dream, it would be necessary to use her wealth 
as well as his own. Agnes Thompson must have ap- 
proved of the plan for she married him in the early 
spring. 

During that year, 1807, two brothers not before 
mentioned, Martin and Matthew, M'ho remained in 
Pawling when Wm. Prendergast Sen., went to Pitts- 
town to reside, emigrated to Chautauqua county and 
joined their relatives there congregated. Matthew took 
up lands on the west side of the lake, near what has 
long been known as Prendergast Point, and Martin lo- 
cated himself on the bank of the lake at Mayville. 

We know very little of James and Agnes during 
the next tW'O years. There was a delay in the wife's 
disposing of her property and receiving her money ; 
and after Alexander Thompson Prendergast was born, 
in February, 1807, they had to wait until it was sate 
for him to be taken on such a journey. But James 
kept up good courage. One of his brothers, just men- 
tioned, at his suggestion secured 1,000 acres of land at 
the Rapids on whicii was the water privilege, and he 
was content to remain a while longer and watch the 
growth of his son. When he was six months old it 
was considered safe for him to travel, l)ut when prepa- 



14 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

rations were about l)eiiio- made Nancy concluded that 
she and Alexander better remain in Pittstown another 
year, and consented that her husband should come on 
alone and make further purchases and arrangements 
about the lands, then return for the winter, and they 
would all go on together .the next season. As here 
stated the plan was carried out. 

In the early autumn of 1S09 James Prendergast 
again came to Chautauqua accompanied by his faith- 
ful henchman, John Blowers, and after a visit to his 
father and mother and brothers on the west side of the 
lake, and especially to his brother Matthew, with whom 
he arranged the purchase he had made for him at the 
Rapids, and removed from his tongue the l)and of 
silence as to the true purchaser, he passed down the 
lake to visit his brother-in-law at the Narrows, 
accompanied Ity liis most constant attendant 
Blowers, whom he thought he could make useful. 
Blower's young wife was a favorite servant of Mrs. 
Prendergast and had remained to assist in the care of 
Alexander. 

James suggested to William Bemus that he wouki 
be pleased to visit the rapids of the outlet, that he was 
through there three years previous when hunting for 
the old horses, and he wished to go there again ; that 
if he would furnish him witli a good canoe and some 
one to help Blowers row it would be all he needed. 
Bemus replied : " I will go with you myself 
and take along tlie stoutest young settler in this 
country, Joseph Smiley who came in about a month 
ago and lives four or fives miles down the lake." 

The next morning they started, stopping at what 
is now known as Smiley's bay to take in Bemus' stout 
young friend. During this trip James Prendergast for 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 15 

the first time had an opportunity to see the outlet be- 
tween the lake and the rapids ; he expressed himself 
not only as delighted but charmed at the beauty of the 
scene. Arriving at the rapids he spent the remainder 
of the day in examining the location on ])oth sides of 
the stream. Finally he said : "I will build my house 
here, and place a saw mill there, and possibly grow 
up a town on the hill." "Your house ! Your saw mill ! 
AVhat are we to understand ?" " This, that the 
land where we stand and on both sides of these 
rapids are my property. I intend to build a 
house near the place I have indicated, and come on 
next year and occupy it. I shall build a saw mill and 
cut these pine trees into lumber. I think this country 
will settle rapidly, and I shall build a grist mill, a vil- 
lage will be needed somewhere hereabouts, and I shall 
try to bring it here." "James, do you think that 
Nancy will consent to make this wilderness her home ?" 
"O yes, that was arranged long ago. When I returned 
to Pittstown the whole matter was thoroughly can- 
vassed. She approved, and ever since it has been a 
prominent subject of conversation. She is as anxious to 
be here as I am to come. Soon after Matthew moved 
in, two years ago, he secured 1,000 acres for me here 
and I intend to buy more immediately." 

The shades of evening had began .to gather when 
they started on their return, .and as they were taking 
the first recorded moonlight ride up the narrow 
crooked outlet, the sound of their voices mingled with 
the wail of the lynx, and the howl of the wolf, but 
they were too busy with grand thoughts touching the 
future of this wilderness to attend to the voices 
it gave forth. They discussed the cutting down 
of these mighty forests,— the toils and privations 



16 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the first settlers would be obliged to endure, the rich 

rewards the}- would receive for their labors, and the 

beautiful farms they would leave as a heritage to then- 
children. When they arrived at the narrows they 
were surprised that the distance was so short and were 
inclined to doubt the accuracy of Bemus' old clock 
when it announced that it was two o'clock in the 
morning. 

James in giving an account of this second visit to 
the Rapids to his brother Matthew, pointed out the 
necessity of securing another tract of land adjoining 
his present purchase, was surprised to hear his brother 
say that the articles for the lands desired were al- 
ready in his possession. "Tlie first thousand acres were 
paid for in cash, the articles secure the balance of the 
lands which you wish, and you better leave it as it is until 
you have absolutely made the Rapids your home ; if 
not wanted it will be easy to dispose of the articles." 
The visit ended, .James Prendergast returned to Pitts- 
town accompanied by Blowers. During the next sea- 
son he came to Chautauqua witli Nancy his wife and 
the young Alexander, together with John and Mary 
Blowers, and three persons wlio came as drivers and 
Avho afterwards were employed, two of them by Mat- 
thew Prendergast and one by AVilliam Bemus.' The 
family of James Prendergast found a home at Mat- 
thew's until the following year when they moved into 
their new log house at the Rapids. 

During the year 1811, besides building the log 
house, he built a dam across the outlet just above the 
present Steele street bridge and erected a saw mill. 
Within a twelve month the house and the mill burned 
down. This was a bad beginning and a great loss, and 
the loss was total ; there were no insurance companies 



Til E TO W N' V E L LI f ' OTT. 1 7 

in those days. Nearly the whole contents of the house 
which were of gTeat value were hurned. But the in- 
(loniital)le will and cour<io-e of the pioneer did not 
hreak under the disaster. He made immediate prepa- 
rations to repair daniao,-es. 

As complaints had ])vv\\ made l)y settlers on the 
lake that his dam raised the water in the lake and 
overflowed their flat lands, he ])uilt his new dam 
farther down the stream, wliere in his own judguient 
it should have been built in the tiist place; the reason 
why it was not, beini!,- the difficultv and the heavy cost 
of erect in, ij,- a dam at tliat location. 

The]-ecame,happily,almost immediately to liisassis- 
tanceCapt. Wm. Forbes, of whom we shall speak here- 
after. Withm a few days l)oards and plank were hauled 
from Work's and a cheap plank house built on the east 
side of wliat is now Cherry street, between First and Sec- 
ond. This was a lon^-, one-story liouse,with a huge double 
iire-place and chimney in the middle. Of this rude 
structure Prendero-ast occupied one end and Forbes 
the other. The second dam after great cost in money 
aiid labor Avas completed in the fall of 1S12. The 
dam then l)uilt is the present Warner dam.* 
A rac(^ was made from the dam to what now 
is Main street, and a saw mill erected about twelve 
feet east of Main street and south of ibe })resent i-ail 
road track. A wooden tiume connceted tlie I'ace wilii 
the mill. This ndll (h'd not get into o])eration until 
late in the sunnner of iSlo, and in the fall of 1.S15 
burned down. We leave the subject of saw mills 
for a future chapter, but would here state that after 

* Since Mr. Warner became owner of tlie saw mill a portion of 
the bed of the dam washed out and was repaired at a heavy expense 
As it was originally built at one of the most difficult i)la"ces on the 
outlet, the work must have been well done. 



18 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the burning of his house and mills in 1812, and hav- 
ing decided the location of his new dam and mill, 
he set John Blowers with several hands getting out 
timber for a house intended as a boarding house 
for the men engaged in building the dam and 
mills. The frame of this house was of heavy white 
oak timbers, 20x35 and one and one-half stories in 
height. This was the tirst framed building erected at 
the Rapids. It was also intended as a tavern or stop- 
ping place for those seeking locations until a tavern 
(Hotel) should be Iniilt. This house for several 
years was known as the Blowers' House, although it 
was sold to Dr. Laban Hazeltiiie in 1814, and occupied 
by him in .June, 1815, and continued to be his resi- 
dence for nearlv 40 vears. 



CHAPTER II. 



The Organizatiox of the County. — Pkendergast's 
P'iRST Work at the Rapids. — Organization of 
the Town of Ellicott. — Sketch of William 
Bemtjs. 



^ I ^HE present appears to be one of those periods of 
upheaval not only in methods pursued in all kinds 
of labor, but has become also a governin_i>- influence in 
all the professions, arts and pursuits of life. A new 
principle in political economy is requesting to become 
established as the guide in all human transactions. 
Many appear to submit to this new movement, and 
the majority appear to be guided l)y it. To the 
'^' mind's eye" it is seen posted up in our legislative 
halls and in all of the departments of government. It 
is emblazoned upon all our mills and factories. We 
find it on all of the steamboats and railroad cars. It 
is cut in letters of gold on the doors of palatial resi- 
dences, — it is scribbled with charcoal and chalk on the 
hovels of the poor and starving. It has become the 
universal guide, and yet every one knows that it is a 
false one. Many 'Of tiie rich and those who think they 



20 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

see riches within their grasp view it as tlie stepping- 
stone to greater wealth ; tlie hizy and non-supporting 
dangerous classes, the degraded hater of his race,, 
wdiose greatest pleasure would l)e to imbue his hands 
in his neighbor's blood, — tlie nihilist and the anarchist 
are equally its dangerous supporters. AVhat is to be 
the result ? We a})})rehend tliat tlie danger is more 
apparent than real. 

The labor question which so agitates the country 
at the present day, and tln-eatens with all of the 
evils of Socialism, and even witli tlie horrors of An- 
archy, destructive alike to life and civilization, is not 
one of the present times only. In many respects the 
agitation and danger was greater :'()() years ago than 
now.' Then it was almost impossible to introduce la- 
])or saving machines of any kind. The idea that a 
inachine might accomplisli some labor possible to man 
brought together a mob, and tlie suspected machinery 
was immediately destroyed. As an example, the first 
saw mill was erected in England in 1653 ; tlie mob 
seeing that the mill would save an immensity of lalior 
then performed by man, (much to his physical hurt,, 
for but few could withstand the severe labor of the 
saw pit for over half a dozen years without becoming 
unfitted for even the lightest labor of the farm,) col- 
lected and in a short time the offending mill was torn ji 
dow^n. Ignorant, excited men cannot be made to see 
the great benefits that labor saving machinery confers 
upon all alike, the poor equally with tlie rich ; they 
can only see that the machine will do the labor of '20 
or of 50 men^ — that is enough — the machine must be 
destroyed, or 50 men starve, is the height and depth of 
their philosophy. The excitement of to-<lav will be 
exceeded by the calm of to-morrow. 



THE TOW'S OF ELLICOTT. 21 

To the better understanding of our history it is 
obviously necessary to go back to the first of the pres- 
ent century, (1802,) when the county of Genesee was 
set off from the county of Ontario, the former com- 
prising all of the territory of New York State lying- 
west and south of the present county of Ontario, in- 
cluding the present counties of Genesee, Oi'lcans, 
Niagara, Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus 
and the western four-fifths of Allegany. Up to 1804 
the western portion of the state was all comprised in 
the county of Genesee, and the present counties of 
C'hautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara belonged 
to the town of Batavia. 

The town of Chautauqua was formed from the 
town of Batavia, April 11th, 1804, and comprised all 
the present county of Chautauqua, except " range " 10 
of tlie Holland Company's surveys. This county 
was, therefore, at tluit time made the town of 
Chautauqua, Genesee county. In what is now 
the town of Chautauqua there was then no settler. 
The first settler, according to most trustworthy ac- 
counts, was " Dr." Alexander Mclntyre, who lived at 
the sulphur spring in the gulf south of Westfield vil- 
lage, long called " the Mclntyre Spring." In June, 
1805, Filer Sackett settled near Dewittville, and in 
September Peter Barn hart settled near what is now 
Point Chautauqua. 

The first town meeting, or election, ever held in 
this county was at what was then known as the Cross 
Roads, now Westfield, in April, 1805. At that time 
John McMahan, who was the first purchaser of land in 
the county, if not the iii-st settler, was elected Super- 
visor and James Montgomery Town Clerk. Col. James 
McMahan's land, or farm, was on the west side of the 



23 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Portage road, and Edward McHeiiry's widow lived on 
the east side of the Portage road, at the Cross Roads^ 
and she kept a little "tavern" there for many years. 
Her husljand was drowned in 1803. This was the- 
first known death of a white settler in the county. 
His son Jolni, l)orn the previous year (1802) was the 
first white child l)orn in the county. Gen. .John Mc- 
Mahan settled near the mouth of Chautauqua creek,, 
on the west side ol the Portage road. He built the 
first grist mill in the county in 1804, and the old mill 
race is still plainly visible. .James Montgomery set- 
tled west of the Cross Roads in 1808. He was married 
in 1805, and this was, we believe, the first marriage in 
the county. 

David Eason and Perry (1. Ellsworth were com- 
missioned justices in 1806 and were the first for 
Chautauqua county. In 1808 Chautauqua was divided 
into two townships, the line running from north to 
south, from Lake Erie to the state line, the parts be- 
ing nearly equal in area ; the new town on the east pf 
the line l)eing Pomfret and the one on the west Chau- 
tauqua. Tlie present town of Ellicott was then a part, 
of the town of Pomfret. 

In 1805 a post route was established between Buf- 
falo and Presque Isle (Erie) the mail to be carried once 
in two weeks. On May 6th, 1806, the first post office 
was established in Chautaucjua County, at the Cross 
Roads ; it was called Chautauqua, and C-ol. James Mc- 
Mahan was appointed postmaster. On June 18, 1806, 
the second post office was established and called Can- 
adaway ; it was located about four miles east of Fre- 
donia, near what is now Sheridan Centre. The office 
at Fredonia was established in 1809 ; the post office at 
Mayville in 1812 ; and was the only office " south of 



tup: town of ellicott. 23 

the ridge" until Dec. 18, 1816, when a post office was 
estabhshed at Jamestown. 

Horatio Gates Spafford, who compiled the Gazetteer 
of New York which was pu])lished in Albany in 1813, 
spells the name of the county Chautauqua, though the 
final a was changed to an e later on, why and for what 
reasons is not clear. Several years ago the original 
and correct spelling was restored, and undue credit for 
the change given to a single individual. 

In the year 1808 Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie 
and Niagara counties were erected into separate coun- 
ties, hut all of these were parts of Niagara and were 
attached to Niagar% county until each one should have 
a voting population of five hundred v^h/ich luvuld entitle 
it to elect a memher (f assemhly; consequently the 
member of assembly elected in that year from Niagara 
county received the votes of Chautauqua's electors. 
The population did not entitle Chautauqua county to 
an assemblyman until 1811, although the location of 
the county l:)uildings was made soon after the division 
occurred. The commissioners to fix the site were 
Jonas Williams, Isaac Sullivan and Asa Ransom. The 
record they made of tlie manner in which they dis- 
charged their duties describes in general terms the spot 
chosen, and that there should be no mistake in iden- 
tifying the place, a large hemlock post was driven in- 
to the ground. 

At the final organization of the county in 1811 
Zattu C'Ushing was appointed the first judge, and Mat- 
thew Prendergast, Philo Orton, Jonathan Thompson, 
William Alexander, associate judges ; John E. Mar- 
shall, clerk ; and David Eason, sherifi". The first 
court of common pleas was held in MayvilU' in June, 
1811, when the following attorneys were admitted to 



24 THE EAKLY HJSTOHY OF 

practice : Jacob Houiilitoii, Daniel G. (Tarnsey, Caspar 
Rouse, Anselm Totter, a ISh, Patton and James 
Brackett, wlio was killed at the battle of Black Hock 
in 1812. Soon after James Mullett, Samuel A. Brown 
and Abner Hazeltine became students in the law office 
of Mr. Houghton. The foreman of the first grand jury 
in the county was the late Gen. Leverett Barker, a 
brother of tlie late Wilford Barker of Jamestown. 



' James Prendergast's was not tlie tirst saw mill but 
the third on the waters running from Chautauqua 
count}' to the Allegheny river. Dr. Thomas Kenne- 
dy of Meadville, wlio married a daughter of Andrew 
Ellicott, the celel^rated surveyor for the United States 
under Jefferson, built a saw mill on the Conewango in 
1804 at a point long known as Kennedy's Mills ; after- 
ward as Kennedyville, now as Kennedy, He was a 
brothei'-in-law of Joseph Ellicott, the well known mem- 
ber of the Holland Land Company, after whom the 
town of Ellicott was named, Edward Work, whose 
family lived in the town of Eranklin, Pa., studied 
law in Meadville ; and after Kennedy had com- 
menced operations on the Conewango, Work said to 
him he thought he would make a better lumberman 
than a lawyer, and asked the privilege of coming in- 
to the wildern(>ss with him. This was granted and 
Work remained with Kennedy nearly two years, and 
in 18()() Work & Kennedy bought 1,(K)0 acres of land 
three miles below the Rapids, now known as Falconer. 
In 1808 they erected a saw mill and small grist mill 
on the outlet at that point which were called Work's 
Mills ; and eventually Worksburg. Work sold his 
property to Robert Falconer and others in 18;](). In 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 25 

180(5, two ycai's previous to the building of Work's 
mills, William Wilson and one or tv\T> others had 
taken up land between Work's and what is now Le- 
vant, and George W. Fenton, (father of our late (tov- 
ernor Reuben E. Fenton), had located at the junction, 
of the outlet and the Gassadagua. James and Joseph 
Aiken and Laban Case had opened up locations on 
the Stillwater about three miles away. According to 
the Holland Land Report there must have been one 
or two hundred settlers in what are at present the 
towns of ( 'arroll, Kiantone, Poland and Ellicott, be- 
fore a single stick was cut at the Rapids. 

Li LS13 James Prendergast built his second saw 
mill, located east of Main street and south of the pres- 
ent railway tracks, as stated in the previous chapter. 
In th(^ spring of LSlO, after the second of his mills 
had l)urned, he erected a third saw mill, the location 
of Avhich was west of Main street and south of the 
present rail road track. The Pjaker manufacturing 
building which was burned several years ago stood up- 
on the ancient site of this mill. Between the saw mill 
and the race previously mentioned was located a grist 
mill, the north end nearly reaching the race and the 
other coming witliin a few feet of the saw mill.* The 
grist mill was l)uilt before the saw mill. In the grist 
mill were two run of old fashioned flint stones and 
these were la'ought down the lake and outlet from May- 
ville by Henry Shaw and his son Hem-y, the latter 
the father of Ira I). Shaw who is now a resident of 
Jamestown. The upper tlooi' of the grist mill was oc- 

* I should be pleased if in some way I could preserve the precise 
locality of (his mill. There has been no building there riince the 
Imrniiig of the Baker block. The location is now owned by Mr. 
L B. Wa ner, and I am informed he intends to erect a line block of 
buildings there the coming summer. 



26 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

cupied by tlie carding macliine of Simmons & Blanch- 
ar, ^ and afterwards by Amory and Joseph Stearns 
for the manufacture of reeds for cloth weaving. Mr. 
Prendergast at this time also erected on the site of the 
present Baker brick block on the southwest corner of 
Main and First streets, sheds and yards for customers 
of the grist mill. Long and close sheds were built on 
the north and west sides of the square, and a high and 
close fence on the south and east sides, leaving an en- 
closed yard where those put their teams who came toO' 
late to secure sheds. 

About this time a company was organized who 
erected an enormous, high, heavy building to be used 
as a cotton factory. It was five stories in lieiglit and 
its frame was composed of timbers of unusual size 
which the forests of tliat period afforded. The inten- 
tion of those who caused this building to be erected 
was for a cotton mill, but the plan was never carried 
out. As far back as we can remember, this building 
was owned by Judge Prendergast who never made use 
of it, until he converted it into a grist mill, except one 
season, when a small room was boarded off for the 
Prendergast academy, of which more hereafter. 

The third saw mill and the grist mill last men- 
tioned burned down in 1823. It was a heavy loss to 
the owner and to the town, as all the grain of the in- 
hal)itants was stored in the building ; and it was the 
financial ruin of the Stearns's as they had just received 
a large stock of cane for reeds. Judge Prendergast 
with his usual energy set to work and in a short time 

* The present owner of the mill in making repairs during the 
past summer (1886) found timbers and planks used in the deep parts ' 
of the mill below the water wheels, as sound as when laid down 82 
years ago. 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 27 

had a new and l)etter saw mill on the same foundation, 
while the cotton mill building was utilized as a flour- 
ing- mill ; four run of stone being put in and all kinds 
of new machinery then in vogue in flouring, were 
added. In those days the grinding of grist for the in- 
habitants was the principal business, though some 
flour was put up in barrels. After the erection of these 
mills we have frequently seen in the morning a line of 
wagons and carts, and boys on horseback sitting on 
bags, with grain in one end and a stone jxif'hajjs in the 
other to preserve the hulance, in a line reaching from 
the bridge far up Warren street to the point where 
it is joined by Allen street, coming to the mill ; and 
this was but part of those who came to have their grain 
made into flour. The settlers of Pennsylvania even 
from beyond and below AVarren, came to Jamestown 
for their milling as well as for the largest portion of 
the merchandise used by them. It was the great mart 
of the country in those days. 

.TOSEPH ELLICOTT. 

It may be interesting to know something of the 
history of the man after whom our town was named. 
The ancestors of Joseph EUicott were Andrew and 
Ann Bye Ellicott, natives of the town of (Aillopton 
in Wales. Andrew^ was a Quaker and his wife was 
not, consequently he had committed the almost un- 
pardonable sin of ''■marrying oat of the meeting^'' and 
was disowned. Deeming themselves unjustly dealt 
by, they resolved to flee to the great American wild- 
erness. Tradition awards to him this eulogy : He 
was a man of high character in every respect, one of 
nature's noblemen ; to Ann the praise of being a wo- 
man of great goodness, worthy of her husband. With 
an infant son thev landed in New York in 1731 and 



28 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

purchased land in Bucks county, Pa. That Ann was 
a poetess, the following relic bears witness : 

Through rocks and sands 
And enemies, hands 
And perils of the deep, 
Father and son 
From Cull op ton 
The Lord preserve and keep. 
AnnByeEUicott, 1781. 

The sons of these pioneers were numerous and in 
1770 tliey purchased a large tract of wild land on the 
Patapsco in Ahiryland. They became important men, 
not only in the state but in the nation. Joseph, the 
grandson of Andrew, became a memberof the Holland 
Land Company and removed to Batavia in 1798. He 
had, however, been connected with the comj^any for 
eight years previous as chief surveyor. 

The Hon. S. A. Brown speaks of EUicott as fol- 
lows : ".Judge Ellicott was possessed of a strong dis- 
criminating mind, and l)y reason of the station he oc- 
cupied, wielded a prodigious political influence. 
From the avails of a liberal salary, as well as purchases 
made by him of eligi1)le lots and water privileges, he 
became very rich. But the latter part of his life was 
deplorably wretched. He was removed from his 
agency. He was a stranger to domestic happiness, 
the only bliss of paradise which survived the fall, for 
he lived and died a bachelor. Corroded with the 
cares of wealth, and disappointed in his earthly am- 
bition, his mind became diseased. His friends on that 
account thought it advisable to place him in the in- 
sane asylum in the city of New York. AVe cannot but 
shed a tear as we in imagination behold this once in- 
fluential and distinguished individual entering its 
gloomy portals. The thrilling language of the poet 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 29 

comes to the mind, as he whispers in the ear of an in- 
mate these words ad(h-essed to the new comer : 

'How can I bid thee welcome to a place 

Where joj' yet never entered. 

To a place where sorrow only reigns, 

Groans are our music, and sorrows our companions.' 

"After a short stay at the asylum, Jucj^-e Elhcott 
with his own hands destroyed the life God gave." 

The town of Ellicott was or<i,-anized in 1812. It 
then contained four townships, namely : (Jne and 
two in thetenth, and oneand two in the eleventh range. 
The townships were divided into <)4 lots, of M60 acres 
eacli, making ■i.'5,(>4() acres in each township, or 92,1<)0 
acres in the first town of Ellicott. James Prendergast 
was the hrst supervisor and Ehenezer Davis the first 
town clerk. In 1814 Mr. Prendergast ])ecame county 
judge. This was tlie first county office held in the 
town. Tiie History of the- Holland Land Purchase 
states that the settlement of C-hautauqua county was 
rapid almost from the commencement up to tlie war 
of 1812. It had at an early period the high reputation 
which lias ])een so al)undantly justified and demon- 
strated since and witli increasing force tlirough each 
succeeding decade of tlie more tlian eighty years, since 
Amos 8ottle squatted at Silvei' Creek, or John Mc- 
Mahan hought land in Ripley. After James Prender- 
gast got his mills in full operation in 18lo the settle- 
ment up to 1820 of the south part of tlie county wtMit 
on still more rapidly. We can well remember since 
1820, up to 1825 or 182(5, the emigrants with their covered 
wagons passing down Main street daily on their way 
to new homes in the neighboring towns. It was the 
land of promise with lliese new settlers, and their 
hojx's were not dooni('<l to disapi)ointnient ; bnt those 



30 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

hopes were not realized until after long j^ears of priva- 
tion, severe labor and endurance such as the settle- 
ment of a wilderness involves. We in imagination see 
them now, moving along witli stout hearts, the pioneer 
himself driving his team, with ruddy and cheerful 
countenance, undismayed by all of the difhculties, pri- 
vations and iiardshij^s before liim ; his boys following 
with ritles on their shoulders, or, what was then com- 
mon. United States muskets or old (,)ueen Anne arms ; 
a dog and a cow or so and a few sheep or hogs being 
among the belongings. A coop of chickens was gen- 
erally to be seen, fastened to the hind end of the wa- 
gon, and a huge tar bucket hanging l)eneath ; and 
not un frequently the wagon or wagons so crowded witli 
household goods that the wife and daughters were 
contented to trudge along on foot. We now know 
prosperous farmers, — old men, a few only remaining— 
of the many that were seen moving into the country 
sixty-five years ago in the manner described. Their 
advents are mingled with our earliest recollections. 
Well do we remember seeing them making their slow 
progress — ten miles a day perhaps — over the rough, 
muddy, corduroy roads of those early days : they and 
their glorious pioneer wives and sturdy sons and 
daughters, worn down, almost overcome, with the toils 
and fatigues of a long journey : sheltered at night 
either in their covered wagons, or in the huml)le log- 
house taverns of those days — feeding perhaps on their 
own scanty stores spread out on an old chest — yet 
cheerful and happy ; and with that courage which 
only could have subdued the dense and heavy forests 
covering the beautilul landscapes which now surround 
us. There are a few, a very few of those old pioneers 
left. They lived tlie best part of their lives in log 



thp: town of ellicott. 31 

houses. Their sturdy arms subdued the forests. The 
howHug sheep-steahng woH" and the more-to-be- 
dreaded panther have disappeared. The log house has 
given place to the elegant mansion, the forest to tlie 
most beautiful farms. These are the legacies they 
leave to their children. The pioneers have nearly all 
passed away ; their names are to be found on marble 
slabs in our churchyards. 

Many are the anecdotes that might l^e related of 
the early settlers of Ellicott and surrounding towns. 
There is a wealthy family not far distant from our 
city, the father of wliich pawned liis ride at the land 
office in Mayville in making the first payment on his 
land. After the proper entries Avere made j\h\ Pea- 
cock a.sked the man to take care of the ritle for bim, 
that he might tind it convenient to have the lirearm 
and he was willing to leiui it to him. The land office 
books say that the lifle was redeemed and the land 
promptly paid for. 

Mr. Nathan Brown, an old resident of -lamestown, 
after reading a paper pul)lislied l)y us in the .Jamestown 
Journal, sends the following reininiscences of a jour- 
ney he made to .Jamestown when he was a boy — over 
60 years ago. We think it will not fail to entertain, 
and we give it space here. 

"Finding one of the reeds bought at Emory 
Stearns's reed shop sixty years since, brings to mind my 
first visit to .Jamestown and the incidents connected 
with the trip. At that time ( "lear Creek and its tribu- 
taries, where Ellington now stands, were literally 
swarming with "speckled beauties," and no fish-hooks 
nearer than Jamestown. I suggested to tlie boys that 
if they would furnish the money I would go over and 
purchase a supply of hooks. They raised twenty-five 



32 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF 



cents and decided that my interest Mas to he, one- 
fourtli of the liooks. 

In the meantime my father liad slR-aivd tlie himbs 
and got four jDounds of woo], whicli my motlier ex- 
pected to card by hand and spin to make stockin^-s for 
the family. Father proposed that I sliould take tiie 
wool and have it carded in Jamestown, and also c.dl 
at Stearns's and get the two reeds for tlie looms he had 
ordered, making my trip for business as well as for 
pleasure. I was soon rc>ady, as there was not much 
nonsense or " dudeism " al^out the Young America of 
that early day ; my outfit consisting of tow pants and 
sliirt made by my mother, also a roundabout with the 
ample pockets well stocked with Johnnvcake for lunch, 
and a straw hat made by mv oldest sister. Thus 
equipped 1 started at three o'clock in the morning, 
taknig my dog, Carlo, for campany, and also for pro- 
tection against wolves or any other wild animals I 
might happen to meet with. The path h.y over the 
hill through an almost trackless forest, hy way of 
Vermoiit, then called Bucklin's Corners. I reached 
Jamestown at 9 a. m., a, boy stranger in a strange 
land, but soon found Daniel Hazeltine's, cardim-- 
machine, and left my wool. 8o manv others were 
before me that mine could not be readv before 2 p. m. 
I next found Stearns's reed shop, and, as he had only 
one of the reeds ordered, partly finished and could not 
complete it until three o'clock, I went to take a view 
of the village and to make my important investment 
at Prendergast's store on First street. The proprietor. 
Dr. Jediah Prendergast, waited on me himself, and 
when I asked for twenty-five cents' worth of fish 
hooks, wished to know where I came from. On learn- 
ing that I had walked from Clear Creek he said. 



TIIK TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 33 

"Twelve miles through the woods to buy fish hooks ! 
Yon have more grit than most l)oys of your age, and 
ought to have a good many liooks. Wo sell hooks at 
a cent apiece, l)Ut you shall have them at cost," C(nint- 
ing out fifty. I thanked liim and, turning to leave 
the store, noticed a number of auger holes through the 
door about hS inches from the l)ottom. On inquiring 
why those were there he said that some one intended 
to rob the store, but had been ii"ightened away by 
sawyer going up to Dr. Hjizeltine's spring for water. 
In five minutes more they would have broken the 
piece out and entered. This was the first attempt at 
l)urgiary in Jamestown, and the last for many years. 

After viewing the saw mill with its ponderous 
gang of seventeen saws, I called at the shops for my 
rolls and reed, and then discovered tliat my dog Carlo 
was missing. Not succeeding in finding liim, my trip 
home was much more lonely. I returned by way of 
Worksburg, stopping at the spring near the grist mill, 
there to finish my corn bread and enjoy a drink of that 
refreshing water. I went down to the Cassadaga and 
followed the path over the hill ; l)ut darkm-ss and a 
severe thunder storm compelled me to make for a 
liglit through {he trees, and I readied a log cabin just 
in time to avoid getting my I'olls, reed and fish hooks 
wet. It was one oi those pioneer cabins occupied by 
one f )f our neighbors, two mih's distant from our home. 
They kindly took me in, gave me a disli of nnish and 
milk, and afterwards brought me a saptrough of water 
to l)athe my feet, blistered fi-om tlie walk of twenty- 
two miles, insisting that 1 should spend the night 
there, as the storm was so severe. I reluctantly con- 
sented, knowing that in a cabin not far away thei'e 
would }je nnicli anxiety on mv account. But spread- 



34 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ing a blanket on tlie floor I soon forgot home and all 
surroundings. At dayl)reak I continued my journey, 
reaching liome to find that the dog liad preceded me 
and had added to their fears for my welfare, tliinking 
that he would not leave me unless something very 
serious had occurred. I met with a hearty greeting, 
tlie rolls and * the reeds and the hooks pleased. The 
boys soon came for their liooks and decided that I 
should keep half of them as then they would liave 
two more hooks apiece than they had expected. 
Thus ended my first trip to .Jam(\>^t(>\vii. and the reed 
is preserved in memory of it." 

The fourth saw mil] ercctcMl by .Judge Pi'endergast 
was in the fall of LS-JT. The mill that had l)urned 
was rented to Eliakim (larfield and .Josluia Wiltsie, 
and they were manufactm'hig ]uml>er on their own 
account. At the requi'st of .Judge rrendergast they 
furnished their sawyei-s with axes, marched them to 
the woods near l;)y, and in a few days the tind)er was 
cut and hewn and drawn and framed and u}). AVith 
equal celerity tlie millwrights did tlieir \\(n-k, and in a 
remarkably short time the music of tlie clanging saws 
were again heard ; tlie sawyers were again busy 
drawing in the logs up the steep incline with that long- 
heavy chain,— in carrying out and piling the boards, 
and in tlirowing tlie slabs on the l)urniiig ]>ile, the fire 
of which seldom went out. The sound of those saws 
was sweet music to the then citizens of Jamestown, 
as that which their children now enjoy in the opera 
house and the concert room. This mill was erected 
on the foundation of the old one. 

The cotton factory which had been converted 

* One of these reeds was exhibited at the serai-centennial fair 
held at Marvin Parli September 1st, 1886. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 35 

into a jJTist mill in 1823, burned in tlio fall of 1833, 
and on its foundation was built the stone mill which is 
now owned by Daniel H, Grandin. This heavy build- 
ing was erected for Judge Prendergast by William 
Bell of Warren, of stone from the Dexterville quarries. 
The mill work l)y Elijah Bishop, and when completed 
was considered as perfect as could l)c found west of 
Rochester. 

The first saw mill Iniilt by .Judge Prendergast at 
the Rapids was the third in southern Cliautauqua. 
Nathan Cass in 1815, made a clearing and built a saw 
mill at what was then known as the Slippery Rock. 
In the fall of 181(5 or early in the following spring 
Cass sold his interest at Slippery Rock to .John and 
Darius Dexter of MayVille and Dewittville. 

The Dexters were among the earliest settlers of 
the county. .John, Darius and AVilliam Dexter came 
to Mayville in 1808, and l)<)Uglit lands in that vici- 
nity. Darius Dexter cut the first road from the lake 
througb Mayville towards tlie Cross Roads. Where 
the court house now stands was cleared by liim. He 
went back to Herkimer county in tlie fall and returned 
in the spring of 1801> with his wife. He was at Black 
Rock in the war of iSpi as an officer in one of the 
Cliautauqua companies. At the close of tlie war he 
became a colonel and was the first commanding officer 
of the 162d Regiment of N. Y. State militia. He was 
one of Ellicott's prominent and most valuable citi/.cns. 
He was a prominent and useful mcMuberof tlie church 
and will long be remembered foi- bis cliarities — and 
also we must add — for his one swi^ai- word for wbicli he 
became as noted as Elisba Allen was for his. He 
was everywhere known as '■'■ dom'" Dextei'. 

•John Dexter was for manv vcars count v clerk. 



36 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

serving eleven years between 1815 and 1828. The- 
brothers for several years had a store and asliery at 
Dewittville and Darius resided there ; lie removed to 
Slippery Rock in 181S, and the locality soon after as- 
sumed the name of Dexter's Mills, afterwards Dexter- 
ville, now East Jamestown, Mrs. Dexter, a lady of 
great worth, died there in 18'29. His son, Harrison 
Dexter, now a wealthy lumberman, retired from busi- 
ness, resides in Cincinnati. His wife, still living, was 
the second daughter of William and Laura Knight of 
Jamestown. After selling the property at Dexterville 
to Falconer, Jones and Allen, Darius Dexter moved to 
Perry, Illinois, and died there. John Dexter removed 
to Wisconsin. Harrison Dexter and wife may be usu- 
ally met with daily in the streets of Jamestown during 
the summer. The locations of childhood and youth 
are not easily eradicated from the minds and affec- 
tions of humanity. For nearly seventy years Dexter 
and Dexterville luive been household words with the 
people of Jamestown, as also were Tiffany and Tiffany- 
ville, AV^ork and Worksburg, Plumb and Plumbville. 
Now all of these locations have changed their names, 
and the l)usy residents who crowd the streets and 
highways of those once peaceful, pleasant hamlets, not 
one in a hundred ever heard the names of their 
founders spoken. 

In 181(> Benjamin Ross l)uilt a mill on the C'assa- 
diiga, a couple of miles north of Work's, whicli was 
the fifth. The 6tli was Myers on the Oonewango, and 
in rapid succession several others followed. Many 
saw mills were very soon erected on small streams 
which furinshed water for sawing from one to three 
months of the year. The lumber from these mills 
was used by tlu; settlers near them, for there were no 



THE TOWN OF ELLIC'OTT. ST 

means of getting it to any other market. Mills multi- 
plied so fast from 1820 to 1830 that this region was 
stripped of nearly all its first class pine lumber pre- 
vious to 1840. Vast fleets of lumber, boards and sliin- 
gles were sent yearly down the Allegheny to Pittsburg, 
Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis and New Orleans. 
For several years all the lumber used in the south was 
from western New York and northwestern Pennsyl- 
vania, and it was crowded upon the market so rapidlj'' 
that for several years the best pine was worth but four 
to five dollars -per thousand feet, and for two or three 
years it sold for two dollars and fifty cents to three 
dollars per thousand feet, a sum not sufficient to pay 
the cost of rafting and sending to market. At one 
time good l)oards manufactured in Jamestown and 
vicinity sold in the Cincinnati market for one dollar 
and fifty cents per thousand feet. The pine luinl)er 
sent to the southern market up to 182() never more 
than paid the cost of production, notwithstanding, as 
haslicen alleged, many '■'artthed" the trees from which 
the lumber was cut, and a few even after they were 
cut into logs, and instances are recorded where wliole 
rafts of boards were stolen while on their way to mar- 
ket — "-broke loose, you, know Probably the boards 
manufactured in Jamestown brought as remunerative 
prices in the springs of 1827, 1828 and 1829 as in 
any years. Between 1820 and 1830 Eliakim Gar- 
field, one of the rentors of tlie Prendergast mills, 
sold boards, "clear stutt'" and "good common," 
to his brothers-in-law, Horace Bacon and Richard Kil- 
ler, for three dollars per thousand feet, and with the 
money made by him during that period purchased the 
large farm in Busti on which he now resides. For 
many years the s]al)S from PreiidergMsrs mills were 



38 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

burned ; tinally lath mills weiv introduced and the 
slabs were cut into lath. In early times shingles 
were rived and shaved out of the best pine timber,, 
but as the first class j)ine timber diminished shingle 
machines were brought into use and timber which 
would not admit of riving and shaving was made 
into shingles. A few days ago we saw hemlock 
shingles put on a roof in our city, which were shaky 
and at least one-quarter rotten. Many shingles now 
used in early times could not be sold at any price.. 
The first grist mill in the town of Ellicott was 
erected at AVork's, now Falconer, in 1809, and was 
a great accommodation to the early settlers over a 
large extent of country. The erection of Work's grist 
mill, although one of the rudest kind, the stones hav- 
ing l)een cut out of a large rock found on the surface 
of the ground near there, and with no means of bolt- 
ing the flour after it was ground, was not only a 
great accommodation , but a great benefit also, by 
stimulating the settlers to open roads to the mill. 
The first roads opened in the country were from the 
various settlements to Work's mills as the center. 
This mill was built four years before there was any 
real settlement at the Rapids. There were a few fam- 
ilies there engaged in the erection of Prendergast's 
mills but that was all. The first grain was ground in 
Prendergast's mill at the Rapids during the winter of 
1814, and the mill was not completed until mid-sum- 
mer of that year. 

SeA^eral years ago much was said of John Blowers's 
house at the boatlanding, and of the burial of a child- 
there, that Blowers came here as early as the spring of 
1809, and remained, not returning with James Pren- 
dergast to Pittstown. John Blowers, an ignorant and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT, 39 

hard working man, came to the Rapids with Mr, 
Prendergast in the fall of 1809, and returned with 
him. Blowers's wife was maid of all work to Mrs. 
Prendergast, and Blowers was the almost constant at- 
tendant, servant one might say, to James. He was 
one of the rowers of the skiff that brought Prendergast 
and Bemus to the Rapids as previously related. He 
returned with Mr. P. to Pittstown that fall and re- 
turned with him the next season. He worked in 
building the first and second dams and first and sec- 
ond saw mills and lived at first, it might be said, in 
James Prendergast's house. When the log house was 
built at the foot of the Rapids an addition ten feet 
square was made to the south-west corner w^here Blow- 
ers and his wife slept. After tlie l^urning of the house 
and the first mills, a long, low one story plank house 
with a big chimney in the center w^as built for Mr. 
Prendergast and ( 'aptaiii William Forbes, on the east 
side of C'lierry street about centerway l)etween First 
and Second streets. Blowers then built for himself a slab 
caljin on tlie corner of First street and Potter's alley, 
on tlie east side of the alley. He never built a log- 
house near the steamboat landing and never buried a 
cldld of his mon there. 

Big .John Bale, a half-breed Seneca Indian, wdio 
had a white w^oman for a wife, occupied a small cab- 
in near the spring on the opposite side of the outlet. 
Bale came home from a long hunting excursion and 
found a woman named Sprake living in the cal)in 
with his wife. A child of the Sprake woman lay dead 
in the dwelling, and John ordered it carried out. 
Bale's wife persuaded him to take a skiff and cross the 
outlet to where Blowers was cutting logs on what is 
now Fairmount, and in(ht('e the latter to come over 



40 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

and see her. Bale, knowing what was wanted, went, 
and Blowers retnrned across the outlet with him, but 
in ]iis own skill" as Bale would not perrait him in his. 
The women made an agreement with Blowers to bury 
the child, but as Big John would not permit the burial 
to take place on his side of the outlet, Blowers came 
across with the Sprake woman and the dead child, which 
was placed in a bark coffin prepared by the women, 
and buried near tlie outlet below the present high- 
way iron bridge at the boatlanding. A tombstone has 
since been erected not far from this grave. This is the 
true history of the burial at the boatlanding. Why 
some are anxious to establish Blowers in a log house 
at the boatlanding belongs to the unwritten history of 
those days and so it shall reinain. It has been stated 
that this was the first l)urial of a white child in James- 
town ; this is not so, for this burial took place in the 
fall of 1816. 

For many years before and after Judge Prender- 
gast settled here tlie place was known as the Rapids, 
taking the name from tlie natural dam, which extends 
from the boatlanding to the present bridge connecting- 
West Second street with Steele street. This dam is one 
of the beneticeiit provisions of a designing and all- wise 
Creator. But for it our lake at its lower portion would 
be too shallow for navigation, even by canoes. But 
for it, the large fleet of steamboats on the lake ; the 
big hotels on its beautiful sloping banks; the Assembly 
and schools at Fair Point, now Chautauqua, would 
never have existed. But for the Rapids the " Cliau- 
tauqua idea " would never have developed. 

In the year 182"2 an attempt was made to deepen 
the water at this part of the outlet by plowing and re- 
moving the bottom, but it was a task so difficult of ac- 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 41 

coiiiplisliinent that it was abandoned. At tliis time 
tiiere was discovered a row of white oak piles, four in- 
ches in diameter and five feet long, driven firmly into 
the earth across the stream. The finding of these oc- 
casioned no surprise, for C'ornplanter, the great Indian 
chief, had frequently stated to Prendergast and others 
that detachments of soldiers had several times come 
over tlie Portage and in flatboats down Chautauqua 
lake to tlie Rapids on their way south, and that pre- 
vious to Braddock's defeat they had to raise the water 
by driving stakes. He also stated that it had been the 
tradition for nearly two hundred years among the 
Senecas or Five Nations, that C'hautauqua lake, the 
outlet and the Conewango had been a prominent high- 
way from the great lakes to the Allegheny and the 
Ohio. The Prendergast farm in Kiantone is where an 
important Indian village was located in the last part 
of the XA^IIth century. It was one of the granaries of 
the Five Nations. Cornplanter, when the French 
passed down to Fort DuQuesne was but eighteen years 
old, nevertheless he led a party of sixteen braves to 
the defense of the fort, embarking his warriors at 
what has been known as 0x1 )0W Bend on the Cone- 
Avango about a mile north of what is now Fentonville. 
Origin of the name Chautauqua. — We have al- 
so the authority of Cornplanter in conversation with 
Judge Prendergast, that Chautauqua (Ja-da-queh) signi- 
fied the place where a body ascended or was taken up. 
The Seneca tradition is that a hunting party of Indians 
was once encamped on the shore of the lake. A young 
squaw of the party dug and ate a root that created 
thirst, to slake which slie went to the lake — and dis- 
appeared forever. Thence it was infericd 1 hat a root 
grew there which produced an easy death ; a vanish- 



42 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ing away from the afflictions of life. I am well aware 
that the name of the lake has been ascribed to sev- 
eral other traditions and that other derivations have 
been given. Such as "a pack tied in the middle," and 
others equally improbable and ridiculous. President 
Alden, the first president of Allegheny college, says 
Cornplanter's version is doubtless the correct one. 
This is Cornplanter's, and he alludes to it in his cele- 
brated speech against Phelps and Gorham, the pur- 
chasers at an early day of a large portion of the Hol- 
land Land tract in the state of New York. (They 
were purchasers previous to the Holland Land Com- 
pany.) I transcribe the following from tlie long 
speech made before the committee appointed by the 
government to enquire into the subject in dispute : 

"Fathers : — You have said that we are in your 
hand, and by closing it you could crush us to noth- 
ing. Are you determined to crush us ? If you are, 
tell us so, so that those of our nation who have be- 
come your children and have determined to die so, 
may know what to do. I]i his case, a chief has 
said, he would ask you to put him out of pain. An- 
other, who will not think of dying by the hand of 
his father or his brother, says he will return to Jada 
quell, eat of the fatal root and sleep with his fathers in 
peace." 

WILLIAM BEMUS. 

If not the first among the first to settle on tlie 
banks of Chautauqua lake was William Bemus spoken 
of in the former chapter. He was born in Saratoga 
county in 1762, at what was then known as Bemus' 
Heights. Plis father was one of the prominent men 
of that section in wealth and influence. He was 
owner and resident on the grounds on which the bat- 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 43 

tie of Saratoga was fought, and in the most literal 
sense it may be said of him, that he lought bravely 
for his home and his fireside. William Bemus re- 
moved to Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., purchased lands, 
and married Mary, the eldest daughter of William 
Prendergast, in 1782. Early in the present century? 
when the Prendergasts and himself were agitating 
the question of a removal to the western wilderness, 
where their fast increasing families would have 
plenty of room in which to grow and expand, he sold 
his large landed property, to be in readiness for the 
move which he concluded would soon be undertaken. 
Soon after this sale was consummated, he made a trip 
to the west to visit a brother wdio had preceded him, 
and who at that time was living at or near Batavia. He 
M^as accompanied by his brother-in-law, Thomas 
Prendergast. After their visit to Mr. Jotham Bemus it 
was their intention to pass into Canada and view a lo- 
cation which had been recommended as a desirable 
one for their future home. While at Batavia they 
made the acquaintance of Wm. Peacock who had 
lately returned from a surveying tour in the neighbor- 
hood of Chautaucjua lake, and through his influence 
they were induced to pay a visit to C Uiautauqua be- 
fore they returned. This was in 1808. 

The leaving of the families in 1805, their long 
and wearisome travel to Tennessee, and then back 
again tln-ough Ohio to Chautauqua- — a pilgrimage in 
the wilderness of over five months duration, we have 
given in the previous chapter. 

As soon as Mr. Bemus had seen his family com- 
fortably housed in the log tenement, not far distant 
from Thos. Prendergast's, as already spoken of, he 
made a visit to Chautauqua lake and found that a 



44 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

squatter had already been there at work. It was a 
rule at the land office, that if a person built a tenahle 
log house on any unoccupied lands, that he should be 
entitled to the article of 100 acres for each house so 
erected. Dr. Mclntyre had built up a small hut of 
poles 6x8, and about (5 feet high, covered it with brush 
and bark and had claimed that it was habitable, and 
had on false representations received an Article for 100 
acres at what is now known as Bemus Point, and for 
another pole hut on the opposite side, had secured the 
Article of a second 100 acres. 

This was undoubtedly the choicest location on the 
lake, viewed from the outlook of 1805. At least a 
hundred acres at the point bore evidence of former 
human occupancy, and there were two fields, each of 
about 20 acres area free from trees and wdiich gave 
evidence of recent cultivation of corn and beans, those 
two staples of Indian agriculture. Near by was a 
large orchard of wild plum trees, and in this orchard 
were the remains of wigwams and their contents. In 
one of the fields were tw^o large mounds, showing that 
it was an Indian burial place. 

This visit of Wm. Bemus to his much desired lo- 
cation was in October, 1805. The recently erected pole 
huts he felt confident could not hold the lands, never- 
theless they filled him with anxiety. He returned home, 
and from thence started immediately for the land of- 
fice in Batavia. The result of this visit was that he 
was authorized to locate at the narrows, and in the 
following .January Wm. Bemus was booked at the land 
office for lots 58 and 54, tier 2, range 12, with the 
choice of other lots in the spring at a large discount 
for cash down. He had plenty of money in his 
pocket and did not wish to pay $2.50 and $3.00 per 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 45 

acre when it could be purchased for |1.50 cash at 
time of purcliase. One dollar and a half is the price 
paid by William Bemus for several hundred acres on 
both sides of the narrows of Chautauqua lake in 180(). 

Dr. Melntyre claimed that the pole huts were 
sufficient to hold the lands and to avoid all vexation 
Bemus gave him $100 for his interest. Afterwards 
he found a very curious claim upon his lands. Dr. 
Thomas B. Kennedy of jMeadville, Pa., liad a deed 
from the Indians which called for 1,500 acres of land 
indetinitely bounded "between the two hills on each 
side of the creek which empties its waters into the lake 
at tlie narrows." This worthless deed included 
Bemus' purchase on the east side. He offered Ken- 
nedy |80 for Ids interest which was accepted. In 
Juh^, 1800, he took articles for a large amount of 
lands near liis first purchase of which it is not neces- 
sary to give the land office record here. 

After his return from the land office at Batavia, 
he immediately employed a number of hands and 
proceeded to the narrows. In less than two weeks 
and before the 1st of December, 1805, he had erected 
a large and substantial log house about -^O or 40 rods 
north-east from what is now known as Bemus Point 
at the ferry. As this was a time of famine in Chau- 
tauqua he concluded to leave his family where they 
were until spring. On the 0th day of March, 180(5, 
his goods and chattels and family were placed on 
sleds at their temporary home in AW'stfield and 
started for their futiu-e home. Arriving at the lake 
the teams were too smooth shod to stand on the ice. 
The sleds ware propelled by liand across the lake, 
and the teams sent around by land. At sundown, 
Maj-cli 0th, iSdC), the first white settlers on Cliautau- 



46 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

qua lake were at home in their new log house (and 
which many now living will well remember) at the 
narrows of ( 'hautauqua lake, now Bemus Point. 

Bemus commenced his farming operations im- 
mediately by girdling the trees which were mostly 
oak and chestnut, and in due time planting between 
them corn, potatoes, &c. At an early day no man 
did more for the advancement and welfare of the 
country than William Bemus. He was a highly re- 
ligious man- — the Bible was his constant pocket com- 
panion, and all his acts were guided by its precepts ; 
but he had one peculiar belief, and which he gave up 
only a few hours ])efore his death. 'I'hat ])elief was 

that he should live forever. He died -Tanuarv '2d, 
ISIJO. 

To William and Mary (Prendergast) Bemus were 
born seven children, viz : Daniel, Elizabeth, Thomas, 
Tryphena, C'harles, Mehitable and James. 

Daniel Bemus was a physician of note ; resided 

for manv years in MeadA^ille, Pa., and there died in 
18()(). 

Charles Bemus served in the war of 1812. He 
died in .Jamestown at the residence of his son. Dr. 
Wni. V. Bemus, in bsr;l. 

Elizabeth became the wife of ( 'apt. .John Silsbee. 
She died many years ago. 

Thomas Bemus died in 1829. He had eight 
children. I'homas Bemus, now a resident of the town 
of Portland, in this county, and Mary, wife of Horace 
Cullum late of Meadville, now of C'alifornia, were 
children of Thomas Bemus. 

Tryphena became the wife of John Griffith, and 
died in 1851. 

Mehitable, the youngest daughter, became the 
wife of Daniel Hazeltine in 1818, and is still living. 



CHAPTER III 



The Early Settlers the Descendants of the 
Puritans — A Trial at the First Court Held 
IN THE County — The Early Boatmen — Early 
Roads — The A^illage of Stillwater — First 
Navigation of the Lake — The Steamboat 
Chautauqua — Mile's Canoe — Durham Boats — 
Schooner Mink — The Horse Boat. 



^ I ^HE early settlement of the western counties of 
New York from seventy-five to one hundred 
years ago, was something entirely different from the 
settlement of a new section of countrv now. At the 
pi'esent day, when a new state or portion of a state is 
opened to settlement, an immense flow of emigration 
sets in from all portions of the globe, especially from 
all European countries, and speedily that section is 
filled up with the people of all nations, of all lan- 
guages, and all religions. To those who come after, 
these locations will have no early liistory to which 
they can look back with loving pride and filial venera- 
tion. They look l)ack upon a motley group too fre- 
quently representing tlie poor-houses and prisons of 



48 THE EARLY IIISTOHY OF 

many countries — the low, degraded, daug'ei'ous classes,. 
from the vilest dens of the cities of Europe. 

This was not true, when the wilderness of Chau- 
tauqua received her lirst settlers. They were, for the 
most part, the hardy, well educated, reverent descend- 
ants of the Puritans,- — the yeomen and artizans who 
shipped at Delf Haven and landed on Plymoth Rock, 
— or of tlie more nol)le families, hetter educated but 
poor, more retined although oppressed, Dissenters and 
Huguenots who soon after landed in Massachusetts 
bay. 

On the banks of the Charles they commingled and 
became one people, — the New England Fathers. 
During the last centuiy they colonized \"ermont, es- 
pecially that portion of it, of wliich Windham county 
is the center. Thev served under Standish ; they 
were with Wolfe at Quebec,— they fought witli Stark 
at Bennington, with Allen at Ticonderoga, and with 
Gates on the Stillwater. Their blood cemented the 
union of states. 

They conquered the Dutch on the banks of the 
Hudson, and in the valley of the Mohawk, ])y marry- 
ing their daughters and becoming the fathers of the 
most hardy race of pi(jneers of wliich the world can 
boast. 

The descendants of the Puritan settlers of the 
Charles, — of the New England Fathers in ^^ermont, — 
of the hardy home loving pioneers from the valley of 
the Mohawk, with a few yoble spirits from the bloody 
vale of Wyoming, were the early settlers of Chautau- 
qua county. They were a noble race, the flowei-s of 
the families from which they sprang. 

When their homes, built of logs in the deep for- 
ests were in danger of English and Indian invasion in 



THE TOWX OF KLLICOTT, 49 

1S12, they caine foiili, a o-allaiit l)aii(l, and fought 
bravely for tlieir hum hie forest homes. They bravely 
endured all the hardships of a life in the wilderness 
which they made to Idossom as the rose. 

One of their tirst cares was to build scliool houses 
for the education of their children, and to es- 
tablish places for the worship of tlie Ood of their 
fathers. They wei'e the disci])les of Wicklitt'e, of 
Luther, of Calvin, of Edwards, and of Wesley, — ^they 
were Protestants,^ — the friends and defenders of civil 
and religious liljerty. Tlie teachings of the fathers to 
the sons were the teachings of the sons to their child- 
ren. 

When the spirit of slavery rebelled and would 
overthrow the spirit of liberty in 18(51, the children by 
thousands came bravely forth to do battle in freedom's 
cause. Chautauqua sent her own born sons, Schofielcl 
and Stoneman to lead her hosts ; we could record a 
long list of her leaders of companies and of regiments. 
AVhat shall we say of the thousands who so bravely 
fought for the cause of freedom universal inider them ? 
Tins ; — that on every battle field the blood of Chau- 
tauqua's child]"en was fi'eely shed in the holy cause, 
and that tlieir bleaching bones upon these fields testify 
to their brave devotion ; that they were, and are, and 
we trust ever will \)v worthy of the high and noljUi 
pai'entage which is tlieir liirtlu'ight. 



As already stated, in the year ISOS tlie town of 
Chautauqua of the county of (Jenesee was divided in- 
to two towns and erected into the county of Cliautau- 
(jua. Tlie eastern portion, consisting ot ranges 10 and 
11, according to the Holland Land Company's survey, 
was called the town of Lomfret ; the I'cmaining west- 



50 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ern portion retained tho old name of Chautauqua. 
The organization of the county was, however, to be 
dehiyed until the assessment roll should sliow that the 
county had oOO voters or taxable inhabitants. In 1810 
a land ofhce was estal^lished at Mayville with Wm. 
Peacock, a former surveyor of the Holland Land Com- 
pany as ag-ent. On the assessment roll of this year the 
requisite numl)er of taxal)le inhal»itants were recorded, 
and during the winter following, a petition was sent to 
the legislature praying that the county l)e organized, 
with the county seat at Mayville. The petition was grant- 
ed and the council of appointment, consisting of the gov- 
ernor and four senators, appointed the first officers for 
Chautauqua county, on the lUth day of January, 1811. 
These appointments were Zattu (Pushing, judge, Avith 
four associate judges and four assistant justices and 
two coroners. John PI Marshall was appointed clerk, 
David Eason, sheriff, and Squire White, surrogate, and 
the house of John Scott in the village of Mayville was 
designated as the JDlace for holding courts until a 
court house should be l)uilt ; for the locating and 
building of which, in Mayville, with other necessary 
county buildings, a cominittee was appointed. The 
first court of common pleas was held during the fol- 
lowing June. One of the trials at this first court we 
wdll give in Hon. Samuel A. Brown's own words: 

" At this court a trial was held between Esq. 
Jack of Pennsylvania and Esq. Akin of Ellicott, for an 
assault and battery. Violent animosity had prevailed 
for some time between the southern l)oatmen, and the 
Yankees ; all the inhabitants of the county were 
known by that name, regardless of the place or the 
nation which gave them birth. Capt. Dunn of this 
county had been gouged ; that is, one eye pulled out 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 51 

b}^ a boatman named Valentine. This ill will had 
now arrived at a crisis, and was settled by a regular 
fisticutf" tight in a bar room at Mayville. Some eight 
or ten were engaged on each side, and the tight was 
desperate. Caleb Thompson of our own town had 
his thuml) bitten ott". James Akin Esq., and Esq. 
Jack personally engaged ; the one a magistrate in 
Pennsylvania, the other was afterwards a justice in the 
town of Ellicott. Whether their fitness to be leaders 
in this fray, fitted them for the official stations they 
afterwards held, I cannot speak with accuracy, as the 
event is too remote, and too much involved in the 
legendary stories of that day. Akin knocked Jack 
blind in a few moments ; the skin and flesh on his 
skull fell lose over his eyes and he could see to fight 
no longer, when his party took him from the battle 
ground. He was laid up about two months. His 
cause was tried at this court, and the jury gave him a 
verdict of |80, allowing him his medical bill, and time 
actually lost, but no ' smart money,' as the jury doubt- 
less considered the sport equalled the smart. After 
this encounter the Yankees and the boatmen lived in 
perfect harmony." 

We have tlie following anecdote relating to this 
same transaction : The next spring Jack was having 
his Ijoat repaired at Work's jnills, — a fellow boatman 
having run into him at Slippery Rock, (Dexterville) 
for which offense .Jack had knocked him, in Brown's 
language, nearly blind. Akin met him there and 
saluted him with the name that he commonly went 
by, "How are things running will) you Esq. Jackass?" 
and offered his hand. " liiuinhuj down, '^ as soon as 

* Meaning (hat he was on his way down the river, not nn his 
way to the lake. "Salts" was the boatman's name for Onondaga 



•■^'v THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

we can get the salts on. Rome pulled his old Dunne 
on to us up at the PJock and busted Old Sal's * starn, 
and we had ter dnur /,er hxtd, and have N'eddy 
(Works) put a patch on to Iier. It made nie durned 
sick and I just lifted Konie l)y his skulp and his starn 
and pvit him where lie would have drown-ded hadn't 
his pard hooked him out. Well, -hikins f seeing its 
you, rii hand a j)((ir, but it was durned mean to gouge 
a Dunne's Bower *""' skulp oft" iu a pleasant 
little rounder for gill cups, ff But 1 don't hold 
auiiiiose <i(j'iu iiinj one, and as you don't f/nid^e, 
ice'll fflll itjj, friendly, and begin anew. Jakins, when 
I come back after fall rise, we'll gill up friendly. I 
don't hold animose as long as you don't grudge." 

The town of Ellicott was taken from the town of 
Pomfret in 1812 and incorporated on the first day of 
June of tliat year. It then contained four townships, 
over 92,000 acres instead of 25,000 as now, and in- 
cluded the present towns of Poland, Carroll, Kiantone 
and a portion of Busti. Carroll was taken from Elli- 
cott in 1825, and Kiantone from Carroll iu bS5o. Po- 
land was formed from Ellicott in 1882 and Busti was 
nrade up from the towns of Ellicott and Harmony in 
1823. The boundary line of Busti as first formed 
reached the outlet a little west of the present steam- 
boat landing, and for this and other reasons in LS45 
nine lots were taken from Busti and added to the south 
and west sides of the town of Ellicott. 

salt, — usually earned on lijrht keel boats, named after the 
maker, Durham, — pronounced Iw the boatmen as if spelt Durme. 
Rome was the nickname lor Jerome. 

* "Old Sal," — for the Sally Jack which was the name of his 
boat. 

f Akin's nickuame among the boatmen. 

** The Bower was the captain. 

Xt A tin cup— holding a boatman's usual drink of whiskey. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 53 

The first town meeting (1813), was by the legislature, 
appointed to be held at tlie house of Joseph Akin at 
Stillwater. No one now can positively point out 
where Stillwater was, but this is sure, at that 
time it was expected that a town would be laid out 
on the Stillwater creek which should include the 
houses of Joseph Akin and Laban Case. It is near 
enough to say that the locality of this was-to-be village 
of Stillwater was at, near, or about the brick residence 
of the late Howard Russell in Kiantone. Some of our 
older citizens declare that a town called Stillwater was 
laid out at this locality, others say it was only talked 
about. I take the following from S. A. Brown's lec- 
ture : 

In 1815 "the village of .Jamestown, then univer- 
sally known by the name of the Rapids, was laid out 
into lots 50x120 feet etc., etc. Joseph Akin^ previous 
to this tivie^ laid out a vilhige on the Stillioatei\ hut it 
never had any inhabitants.'''' At this first town meeting- 
James Prendergast was elected supervisor, Ebenezer 
Davis, town clerk, Solomon .Jones, Wm. Deland, and 
Benj. Covin, assessors, James Hall, constable and col- 
lector. It was voted to lay a road from Akinsville 
(village of Stillwater) past Laban Case's and Van- 
amie's, James Akins', Ruben Woodward's to Culljurt- 
son's (Col. Fenton's) and thence to Work's mills. Also 
a road from Akinsville to Lawrence Frank's (Frews- 
burg ;) also a road yy'WM WorEs mill to Prendergast's 
mill. A road from Stillwater to Prendergast's mills 
was voted down ; of course, it would injure the pros- 
pects of Stillwater, or Akinsville as sometimes caUed, 
and would benefit the Rapids. The next year (1814) 
a road was voted from Stillwater t<» ITeman Bush's 



54 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

(Busti ;) also a road from Cyrus Fish's * to Bost- 
wick's, oil leading to Stillwater. The next year (1815) it 
was voted to hxy out a road "from near the dwelling 
of Wm. Sears, (now Kiantone) across Solomon Jones' 
bridge over the Stillwater creek, to a bridge across the 
outlet of C/uiutauqua lake^ near and heloio James 
Prendergasfs mills. The next year (1816) the tow 
m.eeting was held at the Rajyids and the village of 
Stillwater ivns speedily and foreoer forgotten. 

Prendergast commenced active operations at the 
Rapids in 1811, but there were several settlers in the 
town of Ellicott previous to that time. Willson was 
living on the farm l^elow Falconer in 1806, Culbertson 
a mile below in 1808, Geo. W. Fenton, .John Arthur 
and Robert Russell were on the opposite side of the 
outlet a mile below Work's in 1800. During the fol- 
lowing year Thomas Slone was on the old Indian 
clearing (the Prendergast farm) on the Kiantone, Sol- 
omon Jones and the Akins's and others on the Still- 
water. Nathaniel Bird was at the foot of the lake 
where Gideon Shearman now lives, and Wm. Deland 
on what has since been known as the Solomon But- 
ler farm. Previous to the settlement of the Rapids^ 
the Frews, the Owens's, the Myres's, James Hall, 
Ebenezer Cheney, Ebenezer Davis, William Sears, 
Jasper Marsh, and others were settlers on the Cone- 
wango and the Stillwater in that part of Ellicott now 
comprised in the towns of Carroll and Kiantone. The 
first settlement in southern Chautauqua was, doubt- 
less, at what is now called Kennedy. Dr. Thomas 

* Cyrus Fish was father of Mrs. Henry Baker. He lived in a 
log house, near the present forks of the road near Wm. Root's. 
There was a burying ground near, and we are told the graves never 
were removed. 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 00 

Kennedy in 1804 built the iir.st saw mill there on the 
Conewano-o, and there were a number of settlers at 
that locality but their names are lost. Probably 
some of them have descendants living in that part of 
the old town of Ellicott now, but so far as we have 
been able to ascertain they cannot furnish the date 
of their fathers' settlement. The Strunks, Zebulon 
Peterson, Augustus Moon, Benjamin Lee, .Jonas Sim- 
mons, Amos Furgurson, Thomas Walkup, and other 
early settlers of the north part of the town came in 
shortly before or soon after the settlement at the 
Rapids had commenced. 

Although .Jamestown is built upon a series of 
hills, it was at an early day as rougli and uninviting 
a locality for a town as could be possibly imagined. 
The ground was not only hilly ])ut filled with swamps, 
deep gullies and quicksand holes ; it was the jeer 
of the stillwaters, and was ridiculed by nearly all 
early visitors to the Rapids. Judge Prendergast and 
his friends contended that the location was a good 
one, that there was no difficulty that could not be 
easily overcome, and what was more — it was the only 
location on the outlet where a town could be built. 
That Chautauqua lake was navigable to this place 
and no further. There is no inhabitant of .James- 
town to-day who will not decide that it is the only 
point on the outlet where our city could be built— and 
a beautiful city it is, — the Pearl City of the Empire 
state. There were but few points at which the outlet 
could be reached on either side in its whole course 
from .the lake to the Conewango, and this the best 
and nearest to the lake. Excepting at these points the 
outlet had a fringe of swamp more or less deep 
on either side. The undersirableness of the location 



56 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was not admitte^l b}' the earliest settlers, as has been 
stated, except by thejimto, after a thorough examina- 
tion of what appeared to be an undesirable locality. A few 
thought ground fartlier east was preferable ; others 
advocated the south side of the outlet, (and with rea- 
son) as the most desirable for residences. Up to 1825, 
no lot in .Jamestown could be sold for more than 
Prendergast's original price of |50 per lot of 50x1 'iO 
feet, except on Main street below Third street. Up to 
that time and afterwards, it was not considered prob- 
able that the town would extend to the south side of 
the outlet, excej^t, possibly for residences. In 1822 at 
a meeting of the inhabitants to choose the site for a 
graveyard. Dr. Elial T. Foote and Dr. Laban Hazel- 
tine both strenuously advocated tlie location of the 
residence of the late \Vm. Hall for that purpose, giv- 
ing as reasons that the ground was suitable and would 
never he warded for huildmg purposes. Its location 
there was defeated by the somewhat whimsical objec- 
tions of S. A. Brown Esq., "that a burying ground 
should be near the meeting house, as in New Eng- 
land, and that soon there would probably 1)0 one built 
near the Prendergast academy, which then served 
them for that purpose ; tliat the place suggested was 
too far front the i'iU((ge, mxA that if tlie bridge should 
break down it would be difficult to reach the grave- 
yard." As whimsical as these reasons appear to l)e, 
they defeated the location of the burying place there, 
an event for which tiie citizens of -lamestown. sJiould 
be forever thankful. 

The central portion of the business j)art of .James- 
town is built upon a swamp. This swamp commenced 
100 feet east of Laftiyette street and extended from 
thence to Potter's allev. It was widest north and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 57 

south, between Washing-ton street and Mechanic's 
alley. At Washington- street it extended nearly to 
the north side of Fourth street, and at Mechanic's 
alley it extended north to about midway between 
Third and Fourth streets. It crossed Main street near 
the north side of the Prendergast block and from 
thence gradually tapered down to the width of Third 
street at Potter's alley. On the south side its southern 
limit between Wasliington and Cherry streets was 
along the center of the block on the south side of 
Third street. Tlie lialf block between Third and Sec- 
ond, and Cherry streets and Mechanic's alley belonged 
to the swamp. East from Mechanic's alley the line 
may be said to have been a little south of Third street 
to Potter's alley. It is within the writer's remem- 
brance that there was a narrow causeway of logs 
covered with hemlock brush and some dirt through 
this swamp on the east side of Main street for the pas- 
sage of teams. Brown in his History of Ellicott states 
that " On the east side of Main street just above Tliird," 
(in front of what is now the Jones block) he has '^ fre- 
quently seen horses so deeply mired, that human aid 
was employed to get them out." As late as 1825 if 
not still later, the land west of Main street and be- 
tween the outlet and Fifth street had been partially 
cleared and was the common pasture for the village 
cows. It was rare that a day passed without some- 
body's cows needing assistance out of the swamp. We 
have seen them wlien they liad entirely disappeared 
but tlieir heads. Occasionally a cow' was missing and 
then came the query, was she sioamped or stolen ? 
At one time, a supply of ropes, short boards, levers, 
etc., was kept at a point somewhere between where the 
+Sherman house and tlu; Pr(!sbvterian chui'cli now stand 



58 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

for the purpose of rescuing cows mired in the swamp. 

At the crossing of Third and Pine streets the 
street has been lowered from twenty to twenty-five 
feet or more. The highest point of tliis hill was at 
the southwest corner now occupied by Bradshaw's 
flour and feed store. Upon this pinnacle Elisha Allen 
erected in IcSlO a large two-storied building which 
would accommodate several families and was gener- 
ally filled with new-comers. This building in 1831 
was torn down and replaced by a one-story house 
which was occupied by the family of Elisha Allen 
until after the death of Mrs. Allen. The late A. F. 
Allen commenced housekeeping here. When A. F. 
Allen built the Bradshaw store this building was re- 
moved to the east side of Prendergast avenue north 
of Sixth street and is still standing. East of this hill 
at the corner of Pine and Third streets commenced 
another swamp which occupied the larger part of the 
block between Third and Second streets and the south 
half of the next block east of Spring street. In addi- 
tion to these swamps and those bordering the outlet, 
the site upon which our town is built was disfigured 
by several deep gullies and mirey surface beds of 
quicksand. But "the path master has been abroad " 
and with pickaxe and shovel has given to nature an 
entirely different aspect. The gullies have been filled, 
the hills lowered, the sv/amps drained and the quick- 
sand deprived of its water, dried up, Jamestown can 
to-day boast of its beautiful location ; the most beauti- 
ful, the most convenient, the most appropriate on the 
whole course of the outlet, from the lake to the Cone- 
wango. 

We well remember w^hen there were but two or 
three hundred inhabitants in Jamestown. The streets 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 59 

were as follows — stumps standing in every one, even 
in Main street. Main street extended from the race 
to Fourth street ; Cherry street from First to Second .; 
Pine street from Second to Fourth ; and Spring street 
from Second to Third. First street extended from 
Cherry to Main and from thence where it did not 
belong, east to Daniel Hazeltine's factory ; Second 
street from Cherry street east to Prendergast avenue, 
and there the Dexterville road began. Third street 
extended from Mechanic's alley to Prendergast avenue. 
Fourth street extended from Main to Pine. On 
Second street, besides the bridge already mentioned in 
front of the printing offices, there was one just east 
and south of Jason Palmeter's house over a deep 
slough. To cross the outlet the race was first crossed 
by a bridge just above Grandin's grist mill, where 
there is one now. The outlet was crossed by a bridge 
commencing as low down as the south end of the 
grist mill and extending south across the outlet to a 
little above the present axe factory. This bridge 
was built in the fall of 1814 by Ruben Landon, 
grandfather of Mr. A. .J. Landon of our city. About 
tlie year 1S24 a new but inferior bridge was built some 
rods above the first. The north end of this second 
bridge was about twenty feet east of the east side of 
Main street and the south end about forty feet east. 
This bridge was a very poor affair, and about 1833 
Henry Morgan, Phineas Palmeter and others con- 
tracted to build a bridge of sound timber and in a 
workmanlike manner, immediately west of the second 
bridge. This third bridge was in use for many years. 
One day it suddenly fell in its whole length just after 
several teams had crossed. The writer saw it as it fell; 
one portion seemed to fall as soon as the others. All 



60 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

went at the same moment. Tlie fourth and last 
wooden bridge was built by Horace Bacon and J. 
Sanford Holman, still above the third and where 
the present stone archway bridge stands, and to which 
it gave place. Many have wondered why the last 
bridge did not extend across the outlet in a line with 
Main street. We will give you the reason. About 
one hundred feet below the dam the stream took an 
abrupt turn to the south and ran along not more than 
fifty feet north of Baker street until it reached what 
we now call Hemlock row, and there it turned north- 
erly and ran wdiere a large portion of those buildings 
now stand to near where Main street passes over 
the arches of the present stone structure. It will at 
once be perceived that if the Ijridge ran in a direct 
line with Main street it would be necessary to extend 
it to Baker street, in which case four or five hundred 
feet of it would run through the middle of the stream. 
It was a favorite amusement not only for boys 
but men to stand on this bridge and spear suckers (mul- 
let) in the swift water below. There are men still living 
in Jamestown who will remember that in the race just 
above the saw mill and from thence down to the 
woolen factory, from ten to fifteen and even more 
pickerel were speared daily. We have in the morn- 
ing and early evening seen from twenty to thirty men 
and boys with spears watching the race for pickerel. 
One evening the late S. W. Parks in a very short time 
lifted out of the race seven beauties, the united weight 
of which was over forty pounds. In early times 
many pickerel were speared yearly in the race, but the 
superabundance spoken of above lasted for only four 
or five years. The theory was that the steamboat 
drove them down from the lake. A very poor theory. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. D] 

but as in more important matters, better perhaps tlian 
none. Fitty years or more ago it was not necessary to 
go to the lake for tisli. If a person had a canoe, a 
spear and a two bushel basket of fat pine he could in 
a couple of hours on the rapids catch all the pickerel, 
yellow and black bass and Buffalo suckers he wanted. 
We have seen many a, pickerel brought from the lake 
weighing ten, fifteen, twenty pounds and even more, 
sold for a Spanish shilling (twelve and one-half cents,) 
or for a pistareen (eighteen and three-fourth cents.) In 
those days the very large fish were not considered 
wholesome, and much inferior in flavor to the 
smaller ones. In those days, when a (> lb. pickerel 
would sell for 25 cents, a 15 lb. one would go a beg- 
ging at a shilling. Billfish were abundant, 
and alligators were the pests of tlie boys wlio 
wanted to catch pumj^kin seeds and rock bass. The 
outlet everywhere below the steaml)oat landing- 
abounded with the largest size sunfisli, weighing a 
half a pound and over. Many a boy we Iiave seen 
dragging liome a long string of them, with an oc- 
casional fair sized black l)ass, after a half-day's fish- 
ing up at the dam. There were three kinds of fish, 
some of them weighing a half a pound, that we 
have not seen in many years. They were found in 
the swift water on the ripples. In form they re- 
sembled trout. They were called red fins, chubs and 
horned dace. Frogs of all kinds and descriptions, 
from the smallest to tlie largest, were abundant every- 
where. We wish we could once more listen to a 
frog concert such as we have heard so many times 
in the long ago. It would l)e agreeable music. 

Roads. — The road to Mayville turned off fi-om 
Main street at Fourth street, thence to I*ine, and 



62 THE EARLY HISTOEY OF 

thence in a tolerably direct line to Lake ^^iew avenue; 
up that avenue to near the rise of ground on 
which the residence of William M. Newton, Esq., now 
stands. Thence it bore to the left and proceeded up 
through the middle of the cemetery to where Lake 
A'^iew avenue joins Main street. There it made a 
square turn to the left and went down the long hill to 
Jones landing, from thence not far from the present 
highway to Mayville. The Fredonia road continued 
from the junction of Lake ^"iew avenue with Main 
street, nearly as it now runs to a point somewhat north 
of where Flint Blanchard now resides. There it l)ore 
to the left of the present road and went up over the 
hill— Wcdkuj? Il'dl. 

In early times in laying out roads if there was a 
hill on the route, they were sure to go over it, espec- 
ially if Robert Falconer was the surveyor. They did 
not act on the old Indian motto that it was no further 
around the side of the kettle than up over the kettle 
bale. But there were good reasons for taking the hill 
routes — the ground was mucli drier and roads more 
easily made. Furthermore the early settlers usually 
built their log houses on the high grounds. After the 
establishment of a three-times a week line of stage 
wagons, between Dunkirk and Jamestown, the driver 
on arriving at Walkup's, since Kimball's, always in- 
vited the passengers to dismount and walk up the 
steep hill a mile or more. One day a passenger (Mr, 
B. F. ^^an Dusen of our city, then coming into the 
country) who had been invited to walk, when alK)Ut 
half way up, declared he must ride as he could not 
walk further up that precipitous mountain. After 
clambering into the wagon he asked the driver "What 
do you call this l^ig hill, anyhow?" "This is AValk- 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 63 

lip's hill, sir," was the reply. "Walk up hill? I 
should say so ; I need not note that down, I shall 
remember it as long- as I live ; have any of your pas- 
sengers ever walked the whole distance?" "Oh, yes, 
some times when the road was very muddy." 

The road to Warren commenced on Baker street, 
a little east of L. B. Warner's late residence, and went 
obliquely up the hill to a point in Forest avenue 
south of the residence of the late William Hall. From 
there it bore to the left ; and about a half a mile 
further south reached a point in line with Prospect 
avenue ; from thence it ran directly south about 
midway between what is now Warren street and For- 
est avenue until it reached a point west of Samuel 
Kidder's ; from thence it bore to the right and pas- 
sed through the gulf, and then near the residence of the 
late .Joseph Garfield ; and from thence in a direct line 
to a bridge a little west of the present bridge across the 
Bostwick brook. After passing Bostwick's house (now 
owned by his daugliter, Mrs. Ghapin Hall Brown,) the 
road made a square turn to the left, and tlience 
past Van Namee to the bridge across the Still- 
water this side of the Ben. Jones farm. From .Jones's 
the road passed not far from where it now runs to 
Warren. 

A road then, as now, continued south from Bost- 
wick's to the noted village of Stillwater, as the lo- 
cality near the farm of A. M. Kent was then known, 
and thence to lUisti Gorners, Andrus's Corners as then 
known. In those days this was the best road to An- 
drus's Gorners, and to Sugar Grove. The other 
road to Sugar Grove, called the Frank Settle- 
ment road, went up what is now Barrett street until 
it reached the highest ground, then turned to the 



64 THE p:arly history of 

right, continued on past the residence of the kite 
Henry Baker, and from thence nearly as the road now 
runs to Pahner's Corners, and thence up and over the 
liill through Frank Settlement, to Andrus's Corners, 
and thence to Sugar Grove. 

The Ashville road passed up over "Sine " Jones's 
hill from the point opposite to Marsh tt Post's bed- 
stead factory, and struck the present road about half 
a mile west of the steami)oat landing Inidge. Tlie 
roads east to Work's, now Falconer, to Ross' Mills 
and Dollotf s Mills were very near their present lo- 
calities. 

At an early day even primitive roads could not be 
said to extend further than these points. There was a 
cheap sort of ])ridge over the outlet at Work's Mills 
and another at Plumb's Mills, and one at Myers' across 
the Conewango. These are all the bridges I now re- 
member of sixty years ago, except the bridge over 
the Stillwater built by Solomon Jones in ISll. I be- 
lieve I have mentioned the main roads of early times. 
There was not a mile of turnpike on any of them. 
Occasionally a stump was removed and tlie danger- 
ous places in tlie corduroy repaired. In this consisted 
nearly all the road repairing at an early day. The 
year the writer was of age he had a road tax of one 
day. He told the pathmaster he would go and mend 
a small but verv <langerous spot in what is now Forest 
avenue not far from the Busti line. We took one of 
the men on the farm with us and in less than half a 
day had the spot permanently cured. I think a day's 
work when commuted in those divs was five sliillings 
(62 1-2.) 

(,)ne of the greatest hardshijjs of any early day 
was the making of roads. Turner in hishistorv of the 



THE 'I'OW N OF ELLICOTT. 65 

Holland Land Purchase remarks that liundreds of 
anecdotes could be told of the early settlers of Chau- 
tauqua, that would illustrate that there, as in all the 
rest of the purchasi', as a class they were poor. Many 
of them came into possession of their lands by paving- 
a mere nominal sum in advance ; in some instances 
not more than "23 c(Mits. There are now in ("hauta.ii- 
qua county prosperous families, and their descendants 
rich, whose last dollar was spent when they arrived at 
tlieir locations in the forest, erected their log houses 
and supplied themselves with a scanty store of pro- 
visions. With the heavy forests which covered this 
county it is not to be wondered at that these first roads 
were of the worst kind ; over hills where the land was 
dryer, corduroy where it was damp, and that these 
roads should 1)0 slow of improvement. When the 
roads necessary are considered, and the few persons 
to make them, and that it was impossible to make a 
passal)le road until the forest on botli sides was cut 
down, it is almost a miracle that we have the fine 
roads we find iiow on every side. The making- of 
roads and bridges has been a herculean task in this 
county. 

The first piece of through road making in this 
country was from the Humphrey house to the foot of 
the hill near the residenc(^ of Frank E. Gifibrd. Soon 
after our late townsman, A. F Alleii, was married, lie 
built a tolerable frame house on the Allen farm about 
half a mile from town, on what is now know)! as War- 
ren street. 'J'he house has l)e(Mi for several years oc- 
cupied by Anthony Bratt. Tlie jidt, as it was called, 
was always muddy and fidl of holes, nllhough great 
labor from year to year had beeji expended upon it. 
After "Gust" had broken his nice new homemade 



66 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

wagon several times in driving down to church, he de- 
termined that til is bit of road that no one had l)een 
able to mend, should be cured, and he had himself 
made pathmaster for that purpose. He went to work, 
first taking out fabulous quantities of old logs, planks, 
etc., casting the mucky soil to each side for sidewalks; 
and then drew from the bed of the outlet hundreds of 
loads of stone with whicli he tilled the canal which he 
had made, where once had been the road. This he 
covered Math bank gravel,. opened the ditches on each 
side and the road was complete. His older fellow citi- 
zens looked on with amazement and with grumbling 
but "Gust" kept to work and gave them but little satis- 
faction. He was noted for doing anything he under- 
took, thoroughly and well. He spent the whole tax of 
his district on that short piece of road, Init it has 
needed nothing more than ordinary repairs in over 
forty-five years. 

SAKCASM OF IIISTOKV. 

We relate the following to illustrate the mutations 
in opinions as time advances : Many years ago Gen- 
eral Horace Allen, one of the first settlers at the 
Rapids, who first lived at the lower village and built 
the first saw mill there, afterwards bought the Mer- 
rill farm on the side hill east of Foote's avenue, 
built for his second residence the long one-story 
house two or three hundred feet south of Allen street, 
and for his third a large wooden structure where 
Kimball's brick residence now stands. 

In those days it was not thought that Jamestown 
would ever become a city ; that the swamp from Brooklyn 
square to the lower village would ever be occupied by 
factories and dwellings; but that the increase of James- 
town would be mainly on the north side of the outlet, 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 67 

and' more to the west than has been the case until hite- 
ly. The interest many years ago of Judge Foote was 
to increase Jamestown towards the east on the north 
side; and of his especial friend to increase it east on 
the south side of the outlet. Allen laid out a few 
streets. One which he called Quaker street first ex- 
tended south from what is now Allen street; upon 
which were several residences and a Quaker school 
kept by Mrs. INhiry Osl)orn, more generally known 
as Aunt Mary, who had several teachers of eminence; 
and pupils from hundreds of miles distant. Because 
of this school, in which the writer was one of the 
teachers from 1835 to 1838, Allen called the street 
Quaker street. Finally Allen desired to extend his 
pet street north across the outlet, through a most ter- 
rible swamp, uj) the hill, through Foote's farm to the 
Methodist church. Foote and his friends opposed this. 
Foote said it would ruin his farm, which then extended 
from Institute street to the lower village on the south 
side of Chandler street. The town authorities opposed 
it, saying it would be an expense which the town 
could not afford. Allen the next year went to work 
and made a good road from what is now Allen street 
to the outlet and drew timber for a bridge. This 
caused Foote and his friends to more warmly oppose 
the opening of the street, contending that it was un- 
necessary and would never be used, and the town said 
it would cost $500 at least to finish the road through 
the swamp on the north side of the outlet to a little 
below the present railway tracks. The General perse- 
vered and next year put up and finished the bridge 
and built the road on the north side of the outlet 
through the swamp to the foot of the hill. After this 
Foote with increased energy worked to dcfcnf the 



08 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

road; but the liighwav comniis.sioiier.s came and viewed 
it and declared tliat the road slionld go throiigli to the 
cliurch, and the town must build it from the foot of 
the hill north thereto. It was two or tln-ee years be- 
fore Foote could forgive Allen for perservering in ex- 
tending Quaker street through to the church. Some 
years afterwards Foote, who for several years had re- 
sided in New Haven, Conn., came to .Jamestown on a 
visit, and at his own request and great solicitation the 
street which for five years he had strenuously opposed 
was changed from Quaker street to Foote's avenue, as 
now generally supposed "In memoriam." 

Early Navigation. — That Chautaucj[ua lake, tlie 
outlet, the Conewango and the Allegheny have com- 
posed a prominent highway for travel and commerce 
between the great lakes and tlie Ohio river for cen- 
turies, is not to be doubted; but tlie history we are to 
record runs back only eighty years or less. In speak- 
ing of the early roads, we should have mentioned 
the first road ever opened in southern Chautauqua 
and the third in the county. This road extended 
from what is now Shadyside on the lake to the Cone- 
wango at Pine Grove. This road was cut between the 
years 1802 and 1S04. Robert Miles, father of the late 
Fred. Miles of Sugar Grove, A\'as one of the prominent 
men engaged in this undertaking, and the termination 
at tlie lake was in an early day known as Miles' Land- 
ing. The Marsh Settlement, in what is now known as 
Farmiiigton, was of much earlier date than any settle- 
ment in southern Cliautau<{ua. Tlie object of this road 
was to give the settlers — there and on the lower Cone- 
wango and the Allegheny, easy access to the lake to 
obtain the fine fish so abundant in it, and also to ob- 
tain h'oni Black Rock ])V the wav of Lake Ei-ie,. the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 09 

Portage road and Chautauqua lake, salt and other 
necessaries. Afterwards it was used by the early set- 
tlers of Chautauqua in driving cattle and hogs, and in 
drawing in on sleds during the winter from the Marsh 
Settlement and below, corn, wheat and other grains 
potatoes and other vegetables for food, or for seed to be 
used in the spring. This road w^as the great highway 
of the wilderness; a guide to the bewildered and lost 
pioneer;^ — if he could strike this road he w'as safe. 
Miles' Landing should not be rubbed out on the west 
shore of the lake. It is to be hoped that Lewis Hall, 
Gustavus A. Bentley and others will consider this mat- 
1,er. 

After the completion of this road. Miles made a 
canoe from an enormous pine tree which he had no- 
ticed when making the road. The tree was said to be 
over five feet in diameter. I Ijelieve the tree stood 
in Pennsylvania. During the winter that canoe was 
made and drawn to the lake at Miles' Landing ready 
for use the coming season, 1806. For several years it 
was the principal carrying craft of the lake. A num- 
ber of years after, it was purchased by .Judge Prender- 
gast for the purpose of preservation, and moored in the 
millpond. It w^as frequently used by the sawyers in 
floating logs down the race to the mill, and in giving 
the boys a ride up tlie rapids. Many a ride w^e have 
liad in Miles' canoe. Finally, in 1823 or 1824 come 
one of the unfortunate breaks in tlie dam — wdrich first 
and last cost the judge a good fortune — away went a 
thousand or more logs, and the big canoe was never 
seen afterwards. 

Before and after the settlement of Jamestown 
boats called keelboats and Durliam ])oats, and large, 
lonsr canoes wej-e accustomed to load at Pittsburg with 



70 THE EARLY HISTOKY OF 

goods suitable for trade with the Indians, and neces 
saries for the white settlers, and proceed up the Alle- 
gheny, the C'Onewango, the outlet and C'hautauqua 
lake to Mayville. Having disposed of their cargoes 
for the furs and peltries of the Indians, and the hard 
dollars of the settlers, they loaded with salt and salted 
Chautauqua lake fish, and then returned to Pittsburg. 
This traffic continued until within the writer's remem- 
brance. In the stream between where now are D. H. 
Grandin's mill aaid the axe factory, we have seen five 
Durham boats at one time tied to the banks. At that 
time by agreement they were to go no farther. Their 
salt had been purchased and delivered at the head of 
the lake. Phineas Palmeter and Reuben Landon had 
built for Judge Prendergast a large scow or flatboat^ 
and they were to deliver the salt from Mayville to the 
keelboats at Jamestown free of charge. An expensive 
canal with five locks had been erected for the accom- 
modation of these keelboats. L. B. Warner's mill 
stands on that canal — part of the canal is the head 
race and part tlie tail race of the mill. The locks were 
removed or, rather, the decayed remnants of them, 
when Baker Iniilt his first mill there. Mills accumu- 
lated on the outlet and the Gonewango and the keel- 
boats after some quarreling, and after the building of 
several unnecessary locks, gave up the trade. Saw 
mills were too much for them. 

After the keel boats ceased running, nearly all 
merchandise came by way of Lake Erie to Barcelona; 
was carted over the hills to Mayville, and from thence 
brought down the lake. A certain kind of liquid goods 
called "Monongahela," put up in large barrels, was 
bought in large quantities in Pittsburg by the lumber- 
men and continued to be brought as far as Warren in 



thp: towjs" of ellicott. 71 

keelbotits and from thence by wagons. For 8onie 
years Palmeter's salt scow and other flat l)oats were 
used in this transportation on Chautauqua lake. Fin- 
ally at the suggestion of Judge Peacock -Tared Irwin 
and a Mr. Nixon built and placed on the lake tlie 
schooner Mink, which was commanded by ( "aptain 
William (Jarpenter of Jamestown. Mr. A. Burr Hiller 
writes us that the "first steamboat prevented the Mink 
prospering in a financial way. In the meantime 
Nixon had purchased land in Clear Creek, where he 
resided for a time." About the year 1829 the Mink 
was run asliore at Fair Point, stript, and there went 
to pieces. This schooner could come down the outlet 
no farther than the present steamboat landing; — then 
for the first time we hear of the landing at the head 
of the rapids. Previous to that time the landing had 
been on the north side of the race just in front of the 
present United States express office. 

Captaix William Carpextee. — ^Tlie historian 
would consider that he had not discharged his duty if 
he did not give a more extended notice to this indivi- 
dual. William Carpenter was by birth an English- 
man. He was one of the Hearts of Oak, as he used 
to express it, of the English navy. For a long time he 
was on a man o' war on the Guinea coast of Africa. He 
was steersman of the captain's gig and w^as frecpiently 
on shore among the natives, of whom he was accus- 
tomed to relate many amusing stories. Carpenter was 
impressed into the service and when he left it was as a 
deserter, though nuicli favonMl and trusted when in 
His Majesty's service. His ship afterwards cruised on 
the American coast. Carpenter used to say he was 
half American when born, and had long determined 
to become an entire one before lie died. As soon ;is tlu^ 



73 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ship touched the American coast and an opportunity 
presented itself he said he took walking papers, 
saluted the Union Jack for the last time and took to 
the forest with his face turned to the setting sun. We 
are not informed how long he had been in this coun- 
try when he arrived in Jamestown. Because of his 
stories about Africa, Solomon Jones Esq., gave Car- 
penter the name of Guinea. He was ever afterwards 
as frequently called Guinea as Carpenter. He was a 
small but stout and energetic man, never easy unless 
actively employed, a good conversationalist and, as 
before said, a good story teller, and withal a great 
lover of clnldren. His conversation was so interlarded 
with sea phrases that no one could be with him five 
minutes without knowing that he was an "old salt." 
He lived for majiy years in a l)uilding where Dr. 
Ormes's office (formerly Elmer Freeman's front hat 
shop) now stands; afterwards, and before his removal 
to Dexterville, in the old Pier & Freeman hat factory 
at the foot of Cherry street. 

The first mail coach between Jamestown and May- 
ville, was built in Jamestown and owned by Gilbert 
Ballard, landlord of the old tavern of that name, and 
Guinea was tlie driver. The stage came in every 
other day about 9 o'clock in tlie evening. The l)oys 
would asseml^le at the old Fine street school house 
corner of Fine and Fourth streets, and when Carpen- 
ter blew his horn (which by agreement was up near 
where tlie cemetery now is) the boys would run up 
the road and meet the coach not far from the south 
end of Lake View avenue, fill it outside and in and 
ride down to the tavern, the driver blowing his horn 
every step of the way. Ballard used to say he could 
tell whether Guinea had a load of passengers or those 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 73 

d — d boys, by tbe way be blowed bis born. Well, 
tbat was a long time ago. They have greater amuse- 
ments now, but we can vouch that riding in Gilbert 
Ballard's stage with Carpenter as driver was about the 
largest fun we ever enjoyed. Carpenter was the 
steersman of tbe horseboat during its short lived car- 
eer, and afterwards of the first steamboat on the lake, 
— the first Cliautauc[ua. 

There was so much merchandize and so many 
household goods coming to and passing • through 
Jamestown that in 1824 Elisha Allen concluded to 
build what was then called a "horse boat." This boat 
was built precisely on the ground occupied by the 
United States express office at present. It was, one 
might say, a large scow% with a cabin on one 
side for passengers; and stables for eight horses on 
the other side. There were small paddle wheels on 
either side like a steamboat, and a large wheel in the 
center of the boat connected with the shaft of the pad- 
dle wheels by gearing. This center wheel was put in 
motion by four horses. At the stern was an oar like 
those used on rafts. Place Carpenter at this oar to 
steer, and Old (Jodfrey, one of Allen's dependents, 
(very frecpiently it was "Gust" Allen— the late A. F. 
Allen Esq.,) on the i-oof to command, and two or three 
stout boys with gads to keep tbe horses going and 
you liave the affair complete. The wheel to which the 
horses were hitched was painted red; why I do not 
know, for that was the only paint wasted on the boat. 
The horse boat ran semi-occasionally a year; it may 
have made a few trips a second year, and then gave 
way to the schooner Mink, and scows with sails. The 
horse boat was a complete failure. No four horses 
could stand it at thai wbco] over an liour at a time, 



74 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

then they were removed and the other four hitched on, 
continuing in this way to the end of the trip. The 
distance from Jamestown to Mayville was never made 
in less than ten hours, with the wind favorable, and 
it frequently took a week to make a round trip. The 
Mink and the scows — the Mink under command of 
Capt. Carpenter, the Palmeter scow under ('apt. Jacobs, 
another under Capt. Shaw, competed as the steamboats 
do now for the freight from Mayville to Jamestown 
and had plenty to do up to 1828. 

Chautauqua's first steamboat. 
Passengers came and went in Ballard's stages. In 
1827 Alvin Plumb formed a company and built a 
steamboat for Chautauqua lake and, although the 
first, was one of the staunchest ever on the lake. It 
was built of the best white oak by a ship carpenter 
from Buffalo named Richards. TJie timber of the boat 
was selected and cut by Eliakim Garfield. The plank 
were sawed by the boatbuilders from logs which were 
rolled up on a staging so that one of the sawyers could 
stand under it. This boat was built partly on the 
ground now occupied by the old freight station of the 
N. Y., P. & O. railway and partly west thereof. The 
reader must recollect that the course of the outlet has 
been materially changed by the building of the rail- 
way. The main stream then ran where the present 
freight station stands and close to the bank under the 
high hill to a point due south of Maj. Hiram Smith's 
residence where it made nearly a square bend to the 
south. Where the stream formerly was is now solid 
ground. Richards worked slowly at this boat during 
the winter and had it ready for launching in the fol- 
lowing May. The launching of that boat was a great 
day for the residents of Jamestown and vicinity. The 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOXT. 75 

whole surrounding country assembled. Plunil) had 
caused to be brought from Westfield a large cannon 
belonging to Alex. McCUurg, It was planted on top 
of the hill where Mrs. ('harles Sterns's house now 
stands on A¥est Second street. Captain Carpenter was 
placed in command. Then for the first time the boys 
of Jamestown heard the roar of artillery. A gun was 
fired, Capt. Richards gave the word and the huge boat 
began to move, cabin end foremost tow^ard the outlet, 
and as she struck the w-ater, Capt. Carpenter gave us 
another of his terrific, ear-splitting, earth-shaking 
hangs! Oh, that was a great day; we shall never for- 
get it; the ring is in our ears yet; we thought w^e were 
brave, and would make good soldiers. We had pre- 
viously heard the howl of the wolf, had seen bears in 
the woods and had killed deer and never dreamed of 
being afraid, or of being brave, but that night we 
dreamed w^e were. We had stood within five rods of 
a terrible cannon, one that Perry had captured on Lake 
Erie, heard its ear-splitting voice and had not run 
away. The l:)oys compared notes next day. Everyone 
bragged how close he was to the terrible cannon wdien 
Carpenter touched it off. As the boat touched the 
water a lady of Jamestown broke a l)ottle of cuiTant 
wine over her bow and said, "I name thee Chau- 
tauqua." That woman in 1815 drove a two-horse 
wagon loaded with fui'niture from Syracuse to 
Jamestown. The steamboat was poled up to where 
the landing now is, and there speedily finished and 
painted. A magnificent figure of a female head and 
bust was placed on her bow^ in a place built for it. 
Phineas Palmeter soon arrived from Pittsburg with 
the machinery, accompanied by an engineer named 
Starring wdio put it in place and was the engineer- of 



76 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tJie steamboat tlie first and, I think, tlie second year. 
After Starring, Palmiter had cliarge of the engine. 
The last of June she was in readiness for work. C'ap- 
tain John I. Willson, an old Lake Erie captain who 
was to command her, came over from Sugar Grove 
where he resided, and she made a trip up into the lake 
and back. Everything was pronounced perfect. Tlie 
first trij) to Mayville was on the following Fourth of 
July. It was a great day for Alvin Plumb and his 
friends. There w^ere about forty who by invitation, 
went up to ^hlyville on that first trip. We remem- 
ber but few besides Plumb, Barrett, Baker, Budlong 
and P.. Falconer of Sugar Grove who were considered 
the owners. There were several from Mayville. Be- 
sides these S. A. Brown, Joseph Waite, Sheldon Fish, 
Laban, Abner and Daniel Hazeltine, Gen. Allen and 
Col. Dexter were aboard. I think that Frank Waite, 
A. F. Allen, Niles Budlong and myself were the only 
boys aboard. The men had a big dinner at a hotel, 
but us boys did not suffer. (3ur mothers had provided 
us bountiful baskets of "grub" to which we did full 
justice in tlie cabin, and whiled away the time by 
catching "pumpkin seeds" from off the sides of the 
boat. That was a great day and us boys were of the 
opinion that we had just about attained our growth. 
Mark Willson Esq., a banker now residing in Winona, 
Minn., a son of the captain, called upon us a few days 
ago, and sa3^s he was on board during the trip. 

The Chautauqua was commanded by Capt. Will- 
son the first year, then by C*apt. David S. Walbridge, * 

* David S. Walbridge was at one time the laodlord of the 
Elisha Allen tavern, corner of Main and Thiid streets. Afterwai'ds 
he was a prominent grocer in Jamestown — his store being in the 
Ballard tavern where the Hall block now stands. He removed to 
Kalamazoo, Michigan, and there was elected a member of Congress. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 7 7 

then by ('apt. Phiiieas Palnieter, afterwards by ('apt. 
(TGorge W. Kellogir and at the close by ('apt. .James 
Hill. In 1835 a largvr and faster boat was built under 
the superintendence of ( ';ipt. Kellogg. This boat Avas 
called the Robert Falconer and Kellogg coniinnnded 
her during the season of 1S;;(). (_'a[)t. Hill ran the 
Chautauqua as an opposition boat. The name of the 
second boat was afterwards changed to William H. 
Seward and still later was called the Empire. There 
were a few years when steamboating did not pay on 
Chautauqua lake. The roads improved and nearly all 
the freight was landed at Dunkirk and brought over 
by teams, (lood coaches we]-e put on this route and 
nearly all the passengers went this way. The boat 
was dismanteled, bought l»y Jason Talmeter and 
others, loaded, I think, witli tanbark and run down 
the river. 

In 1848 ('apt. (Jeo. Stoneman, (father Gen. ►Stone- 
man, the present governor of California) fastened two 
large canoes side by side a few feet apart, planked 
them over and used this affair to bring occasional 
freight from Mayville to .Jamestown. This curious 
boat was named the Twins and was propelled the first 
year by horse power, afterwards bv a small steam en- 
gine. A boat called the Ilollam \"ail was built in 
1851. She ran one season and burned at her dock in 
tlie tall of 1852. Eitlier ])efore or after the H. Yai\ a 
l)oat which, after building, was found almost unsea- 
worthy she careened so l)adly, was built by >hit. P. 
Bemus and others. She was called the Water Witch, 
and afterward, I think, the Lady of the Lake. She 
either gank or was l)urned at Mayville. It 185(> ('apt. 
Cardner built a large steaml)oat at Mayville, and 
])ut in the best machinery that has ever been in 



Vb THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

any boat on the lake. This boat was called the C C. 
Dennis. She was finished off with dining room, pan- 
tries, etc., and meals were served on board. Tlie en- 
gine of this boat put Gardner deeply in del^t, but he 
continued to run her with some intermission up to 
the close of the season of ISBl. Her machinery was 
then taken out and carried awa^^ The hull of the 
boat was floated to the west side of the outlet just be- 
low the steamboat landing l)ridge and there allowed to 
rot down. ( 'apt. James M. Murray, when he first came 
to .Jamestown, was connected with this boat. ('apt. 
Murray was afterwards owner and captain of the un- 
fortunate steamer Chautauqua No. 2, the blowing up 
of which caused so great a loss of life. Since the 
abandonment of the Dennis something over forty 
steaml)oats, large and small, liave been built on Chau- 
tauqua lake. We now have plowing the waves of o .ir 
beautiful Chautauqua nine or ten large, staunch, first- 
class steamboats, and of smaller ones a host, and busi- 
ness for them all. Cliautauqua with its lectures, its 
schools and its colleges, is one of the institutions that 
has come to stay. It now casts the shadow of a giant, 
but it will never be less. C-hautauqua lake with its 
shores lined with magnificent hotels has become a 
noted watering place, and now a railroad is being built 
along the shores. Notwithstanding this the steam- 
boats will increase iii numl)er, size and beauty until 
Chautauqua lake will bear upon her bosom a navy 
larger than any body of water of its size in the world 



CHAPTER IV. 



Present Utility axd Future Destiny — Judge 
Prendergast's Yard — Allen's ( 'o w Yard — Nam- 
ing THE village — The Junto and their Dis- 
comfiture — Cloth Dressing — Daniel Hazel- 
tine AND Family — Operatives — Hat Manufac- 
turing — Pier, — Freeman — and Others — Furs 
AND Peltries — Anecdotes of Bears. 

"T N considering the present condition and future 
prospects of any community, it is well to take into 
account the early trials, successes and failures of those 
who preceded, and of whom, the present occupants of 
their places, the representatives of the industries of to- 
day, are profoundly ignorant. Those who are now the 
inhabitants of tlje city of Jamestown, doubtless look 
upon tlie knowledge of the present condition of so- 
ciety, — the transactions of the present day, — present 
trades, manufacturers and arts, — upon present know- 
ledge and culture, as more important than any other. 
That the present, requires all tlie best thoughts, tlie 

best energies of man, from which, if liis attention is to 



80 THE EAia.y HISTORY OF 

be in the least diverted, the eoininii,- aetive liviiiL!,- fu- 
ture, is far more important than the dead and silent 
past. All this is true; but if we would rinhtfullv ap- 
preciate the present, and guide it to an honorable and 
useful future, we must, in some degree, be acquainted 
with the past, for it is that which instructs us to the 
true positions we now occupy in this drama of lite. If 
we would justly foresee the consequences of the pres- 
ent, we nuist l)e able to see liow the present had its 
origin in that which preceded it. To know the pre;-:- 
ent we must not be ignorant of that which has ])een. 

And yet, with the great mass of mankind, i^'resent 
utility is the measvn-e of all knowledge and of all pur- 
suits. The answer given by the Spartan king — ")\diat 
study is fitted for a l)oy ?" the reply, — "the present mo- 
ment," is as sure to be followed to-day as twenty-five 
centuries ago. The knowledge of our surroundings, 
of wliat is attecting us physically, intellectually, and 
morally, in countless ways, ranks far higher than tbe 
knowledge of the circumstances of preceeding genera- 
tions. "Present Utility" has become the watch word 
of the man of to-day. The present and its duties will 
not permit him to study small communities and their 
gra([ual growth into the present; we have not the time 
to study that which happened in our om'u locality be- 
fore we were l)()rn, or to conjecture what is to liappen 
after we are dead. We have to do our study and our 
wo]'k within the horizon of our oami existence; this 
is the philosophy of the masses at (he present time, 
and it h true. Necessity makes it so. Is tliis not 
"destiny ?" Is it strange than ]nan disbelieves that he 
is intrusted by Providence with the care of his own 
fate ? Is it strange that he is led to tliink that he is 
endjarked, without a rudder, — witliout a sail, — witliout 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 81 

ail oar, — upon tlie stream of destiny, Imrried on he 
knows not how, — and destined to arrive, he knoM'S not 
whitlier ? 

The (hities of htV are too exacting to permit man 
to step aside for the purpose of examining tlie foot- 
steps in the path lie is now treading. Tlie omnipo- 
tent, all exacting present, requires if we would suc- 
ceed, the expenditure of the utmost moment of time 
in its service. And when tliis has heen most faith- 
fully done, the lives of the al)]est and most successful,, 
are too frequently disappointing, and fheir results un- 
fi-uitful. ( )f the thousands of seeds sow^n, and Avatered 
\vith sweat and tears, only one brings forth the 
healthy, vigorous plant. A hundred soldiers die in 
the trenches for one wlio mounts the breacli. Half 
our efforts are in the wrong din^ction, and the other 
half are too clumsy or feeble to attain their aim. If 
at the c'lose of life, we can say we have enjoyed a lit- 
tle happiness and done some good, we shall have cause 
for deep gratitude and humble hope. But a sense of 
comi)lacency, of satisfaction, as of a part faithfully ful- 
filled, and a work thoroughly accomplished, can be- 
long to no man who hjoks l)ack over his course with a 
single eye, and in the light of an approaching change. 
The finer the spirit, and the profounder the insight? 
the more unconquerable will be the feeding of disap- 
pointment. There comes to us an irresistible intima- 
tion that this world was not gixcu ws U> \)q rested in^ 
to be ac(|uieseed in, as the only one or the brightest 
one; a eo/nuct/on and a Hii(/(jedi(>/i seni, perhaps to 
tceaken our jxisnionute attachment to a .scene, tvhick 
otherioUe it viiyht haoe heen too hard to loose our hold 
upon. Centuries have added scarcely one new fact to 
the materials oiKwhicli reason has to woi-k, nor per- 



82 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

fected a sino^le one of the faculties by which that work 
is done. We possess scarcely a single item of know- 
ledge, either human or divine, which was not as famil- 
iar to Plato and to Job as to ourselves. Assuredly we 
have no profounder poetic insight than the one, no 
finer philosophic mind than the other. The deepest 
and saddest ever remains to grieve the heart and to 
originate faith. The unknown is the constant re- 
mainder, liope the solvent. 



In reading these chapters if any one sliould com- 
plain that the events follow no chronological order, 
we reply, that it was not our intention to follow such 
order, but to take up various pursuits, trades and pro- 
fessions of the early settlers as they come up in our 
minds, and to write of them, and of the persons con- 
nected with them, at the same time. We have Ibund 
it impossible to carry out fully our original design, for 
some persons from time to tinle were engaged in many 
different occupations; nevertheless we liave adhered 
to this plan as nearly as practicable. Not unfrequent- 
ly, an old memory — some anecdote — some transaction 
of the early days — disconnected with the sulyect in 
hand, has welled up in the mind and we have not 
hesitated to transcribe them at once, contrary to our 
own pre-arranged rules, which we had intended should 
be our guide. We have feared that if we did not pen 
down the item then and there, it might not occur 
to us again. We are free to acknowledge that the 
matter contained in these pages would admit of better 
arrangement, and we have made several attempts in 
that direction, but with no very desirable results. As 
we now offer tlie pictures from the store house of 
memorv we give vou the result of our best efforts. It 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 83 

has been our great desire and study to arrive at the 
principal facts in our history, giving generally the 
dates of their occurrence, — but to follow up that his- 
tory year after year from 1810 to 1840 or 45, and even 
later, we have discovered to be a task impossible for 
us to perform. AV^e have not attempted a bare dry 
diary of events as they occurred da}^ after day, but 
have attempted without much arrangement to give 
pictures of the past as photographed in our own mem- 
ory. 



•TUDGE PRENDERGAST S "YARD." 

In August, 1814, Judge Prendergast built a small 
one story house, consisting of one large room, two bed- 
rooms in the east end, with a passageway for the stairs 
to the garret between them. In the end towards tlie 
street was but one window and that liglitcd tlie garret. 
There were two windows on the south side and two on 
the north side with a door between the latter two. A 
large Dutch fire-place and chimney occupied the west 
end. This house was made of i)lank and covered with 
wide unplaned clapboards, and was guiltless of paint. 
It stood on the ground now occupied by Hevenor's 
store, on the west side of Main street, and its east end 
was about 15 feet from the street. As long ago as we 
can remember Judge Prendergast's "yard," as it was 
called, extended from Main to Cherry street, and from 
Second street to a line drawn at the north side of the 
store now owned by L. L. Mason. The east, south and 
west sides were enclosed by a rough board fence 
(stakes "wythed" together to hold the boards); the 
nortli by a shed and fence which divided it from the 
barn yard of Ballard's tavcn-n which occupied the 
soutli-west corner of Main and Third streets. Sliding 



84 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

bars of wide 16-foot boards answered the purposes o>f 
front gate. These bars were precisely where now is 
the front of McNaughton's grocery. 

.Judge Prendergast's "yard" at that early day was-- 
the play ground of all the children in the town, and we 
dare say^ they consumed at least a niilkpan full of 
Aunt Nancy's doughnuts daily; and better doughnuts 
were never made in either the village or city of James- 
town. South of Ballard's tavern on Main street a gate- 
way opened into the barn yard. This gateway was im- 
mediately north of Mason's present jewelry store. 
Where the Sherman House now stands there was a 
deep and seemingly bottomless swamp belonging to 
Prendergast; the alley (Mechanics) was not opened 
through that block or through the blocks north of it 
until 1838. This swamp lot, wliere the Sherman 
House now stands, years afterwards was sold to Joseph 
AV^aite, and he built a comfortable residence on 
the corner, and later a two storied stone office 
east and near the center of the lot. A board 
fence extended north from Ballard's barn across 
what is now Third street to the premises of 
Wm. Hall (Solomon Jones's tavern) where the 
Prendergast block now stands. In Judge Prender- 
gast's yard, the east lialf of which was in grass, and 
the west part in smart weed, was tlie house described 
and several small buildings for poultry. On the west 
there was a large barn, immediately north of the 
present Ch(i(d'ivqu,a Democrat building, and barn- 
yard, and a large goose pond where the Journal 
building now stands, which was fed by a large and 
constant stream of water arising in the swamp above,, 
passing obliquely across Second street west of the 
Journal Printing establishment. Crossing Mechanic's 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 85 

alley about sixty feet south of the street and crossiiio- 
First street about ten feet west from the west side of 
the present Baker block, and emptyino- into the mill- 
race. On Second street was a hig-h l)ridge rec{uiring- 
two bents and three lengths of timbers. Under, above 
and below the bridge was a deep, miry slough, through 
which the stream passed. Elisha Allen's large barns 
extended from the alley nearly to the corner of Cherry 
street on the south side of Second. We have at- 
tempted to be explicit in our description of this old 
stamping ground of .Jamestown's early youth, hoping 
that our description will induce some home painter to 
commit it to canvass. There is one whose father well 
remembers what we have here attempted to describe. 
Get him to assist you. The following anecdote of this 
locality is brought forcibly to mind: 
Allen's wagons. 
Elisha Allen lived in a large house* at the south- 
west corner of Main and Second streets. Samuel Bar- 
rett lived on the north-west corner of Cherry and Sec- 
ond streets, and in the house now standing there, and 
Wilford Barker boarded with him. § Mr. Allen kept 
many horses and wagons, and usually half a dozen 
wagons were to be tound at any time in Second street, 
between Main street and the bridge spoken of above. 
One dark night as Barrett and Barker were going 
home, they fell over the tongue of one of the wagons, 
prone into the filth of Allen's cow yard, for he used 
the street for his cows as well as for his wati'ons. Pro- 



* This house (thf^ old Cass tavern) was removed west to the 
alley when A. F. and D. Allen bnilt tlieh" brick block at the corner 
of Main and Second streets in 1H86. It formed the kitchen part of 
the Jamestown house, and was lately torn down. 

§This house has been much changed in appearance by additions 
and repairs. 



86 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

vokecl by the fall and the soiling of their clothes, they 
ran the wagon down an almost perpendicular bank on 
the nortli side of the bridge into the mire twelve feet 
below. Several days after this, Barrett needed to use a 
wagon and went to Allen to borrow. ''H- — 1, Mr. Bar- 
rett," said Allen, "I am very happy to lend you a 
wagon. There is no better religion than that which 
leads us to be kind and charitable, and forgiving to 
our neighbors. I have always found it best to repay 
evil with good." He remembered the transaction of 
ten days previous and a glance at Allen's smiling face 
was sufficient to prove that he was in a scrape. 
"Which of the wagons shall I take, Mr. Allen ?" 
"H — 1, Barrett, the one you pushed over the bank,"' 
was the quick reply. "You will find it just where you 
and Barker left it." "H — 1, Sam, I knew that you would 
have to pull that wagon out, but thought I would not 
ask you to do it until it had gone clean out of sight. 
'Old Argue' * saw you when you pushed it down 
there." There was but one way out of the difRcult}^ 
Securing a stout rope and several men, Mr. Barrett 
succeeded after two hours of hard work in withdraw- 
ing the wagon from the mire into wdiicli it had sunk 
nearly out of sight. We witnessed the pulling out of 
the wagon, as did a score or more of men and 
boys, and frequently since have heard the Major tell 
the story, with the addition, tliat the expense to him- 
self was |2.40. "It cost too much to interfere with Old 
Llsht^s wagons," he would say, and never repeated the 
exploit. 

HOW THE VILLAGE WAS NAMED. 

Perhaps the present will be as convenient time as 
we shall have to give the principal doings and 
* A character we shall speak o f hereafter. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 87 

sayings at a meeting of a few gathered for the purpose 
of giving a name to the hamlet of the rapids. Tliere 
was much ill feeling at the time, and words were 
spoken which we do not transcribe from the record. 
During the summer of 1815, frequent mention was 
made of giving the town a name, especially by the 
junto as it was called, which consisted of five or six in- 
dividuals opposed in all things to Judge Prendergast. 
Some good, as well as some astounding names had 
been proposed. In the fall of that year a few friends 
of Judge Prendergast, fearing a name might be 
foisted ujDon them in the establishment of a post-office, 
through the legislature, or otherwise, that would not 
meet the views of most of the inhabitants, came to- 
gether in the office room of Dr. Hazeltine, in his resi- 
dence (the Blowers house) which up to that time had 
been a usual place for such gatherings, to consider the 
subject. Xine persons attended this meeting, and all 
agreed that it was best to have a name other than 
"Prendergast's Mills" or "The Rapids," the names then 
in use. 

It certainly is strange that in a small hamlet con- 
taining but thirteen families, located in a wilderness 
and almost cut off from civilization, should thus early 
be divided up in to d'lqueH andj/ntfos, and quarreling 
with one another worse than a pack of wolves over a 
half-picked bone, and that this quarrel should con- 
tinue unabated for 15 or 20 years and until tlie princi- 
pal personages should be removed by death or otlier- 
wise from the scenes of their bickerings and turmoils. 
And yet, for the most part, we are convinced that these 
very persons had in view the best interest of the little 
town in which they were the leading and most im- 
portant citizens. The truth is that at that early day, 



88 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

not only the citizens of Ellicott but of the county, be- 
lieved, and tliis belief extended beyond the county to 
the eastern portion of the state and into New Eng- 
land, that the little hamlet of the rapids was to be- 
come a place of importance in the not far distant fu- 
ture. The forests were not only vast in extent, but 
the trees were larger than any ever l)efore known. Its 
pineries were the wonders of the day and their 
fame had extended even to Europe. The great 
wealtli which they represented, the vast water powers 
which everywhere penetrated tliese forests in every 
direction, rendering their conversion into lumber and 
shipments to market easy, b}^ continuous water way 
through the great Mississippi valley. The conversion 
of this water power when the lumber was gone, into 
power for factories of various kinds which even then 
had entered the minds of the settlers in their dreams 
of future greatness and prosperity, — the beautiful 
Chautauqua lake, distant but a midday walk from the 
greatest chain of inland lakes in the world — this lake 
bordered by the richest agricultural lands in the state, 
and itself a vast reservoir of water power. All these 
things had passed through the minds of the early set- 
tlers at the i-apids, and filled their brains with ideas 
of future greatness. Our fathers were the " Creme de 
Creme " of the emigrating classes of those days and in 
prophetic vision saw these things nearly as clearW as 
we, their descendants, see them after the changes of 
two-thirds of a century have stamped themselves on 
the country. The trutli is, those strong, sturdy men 
were fighting for leadership in the grand movements 
soon to follow. It was a praiseworthy ambition that gave 
origin to the junto, nevertheless we must confess that 
their ambition was not without allov. Human nature 



thj: town of ellicott. 8)9 

is prone to stoop to the basest trickery, deceit and 
falsehood, to accomphsh her ends. As a record of this 
meeting, by one who was present, says: "Tlie junto in- 
tends to rule us. Tlie Judge is opposed and vexed on 
all sides, in the most trivial things, and his friends are 
prompted to work against him, not knowing that they 
are doing so; The devil is surely here; some think 
his headquarters are on the Stillwater, but Uncle Solo-, 
mon Jones says we need not travel so far as that to 
find him." "Forbes says Jakins is full of tricks but 
harmless. Why is somebody so anxious to have a 
post office here? I tell you they have got it all cut 
and dried to name the town and intend to use the 
post office as a handspike to raise themselves up to the 
top of the heap. Akhis was over here yesterday and 
the junto had a meeting. * * * 

■^ * * know that we intend to give 

this locality a name to-night; they are troubled but 
dare not interfere." "C'aptain Forbes," said Phin 
Palmiter, " they take off scalps about as savage as they 
■did over on the ^Conjocl'ety;' but you remember that 
it was Stillwater, not the Rapids that run away 
there; we are to be depended on every time." 

"And Stillwater will run again now- — not us. You 
stand by us as you stood by me at C'onjockety and if 
we don't whip the junto I'll foot the bill." "These two 
sallies caused a great laugliter which brought several 
to the door; Forbes went out but soon returned saying 
they were sawyers and he sent them about their busi- 
ness, if any of the Akins' crew had been there I should 
have brought them in." The document from which I 
have taken these extracts is too long for our present 
purpose. 

Several names were suggested in which tlic lumieof 



00 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Prendergast was used; all of them with a suffix of 
town, or ton, berg or ville, &c. It did not appear to 
have entered the minds of our fathers that Prender- 
gast would have been an appropriate name^ for that 
was not according to the fashions and usages of those 
days. It was decided that any name containing Pren- 
dergast would be *'too long for so short a town." They 
then took up the w^ord James and hitched all kinds of 
suffixes to that. Finally the majorit}^ favored James- 
ville as the name but Dr. Hazeltine opposed it because 
there was one if not two towns by that name in the 
state already, and favored the name of Jamesto-wn 
which was finally decided upon, although the major- 
ity were in favor of adjourning a few days before the 
name was fully adopted. Hazeltine and Forbes de- 
clared that any name they chose would have the 
approbation of the Judge and that no one would dare 
to attempt a change; and declared for immediate ac- 
tion. Blanchar declared that it was time to go home,, 
that he should take the responsibility of naming the 
town himself, and that if they would exannne the grist 
mill door in tlie morning they would find the name 
there. That if the "junto" wanted to shear their 
goats they would find him and Walt at the grist mill,, 
and they would grind their grist or pick and card 
their wool, he didn't care a cuss which — that he had 
lived at the Rapids too long to be whipped by Still- 
waters and old Jacob's boarders. True to his word 
there w^as found on the grist mill door next morning 
an advertisement of Simmons & Blanchar, done with 
pen and ink on half a sheet of fools cap paper, calling 
for wool to be cleaned, dried, picked, oiled and carded 
into rolls if delivered to them at their carding works 
in the village of Jamestown, formerly known as the 



THE TOAVN OF ELLICOTT. 91 

Rapids. The junto declared that the advertisement 
was in Dr. Hazehine's handwriting; that it was a 
miserable hoax which Simmons & Blanchar permit- 
ted fearing that Prendergast would make them take 
their carding machines out of the grist mill if they did 
not submit. 

During the winter they attacked the new name with 
all kinds of ridicule, giving the town all sorts of ridic- 
ulous or sarcastic names instead, such as Pendergasses 
dam town, Martinsburg, Jeddediasville, Blowerstown, 
Hezzletonsburgh, etc. Their plan at the time ap- 
peared to be to defeat the name by ridiciling it, but 
they continued the method too long. Within six 
months the name was used by all except the junto, and 
during the following year through the influence of the 
Prendergast party, a post ofhce was established at 
Jamestown, Chautauqua County, N. Y. The oppo- 
sition afterwards declared that they favored the name 
from the l^eginning, but did not wish to have llote 
Blanchar go wool gathering from the otlice of Jim 
Prendergast's pet doctor. Thus it was that the city of 
Jamestown of to-day received its name and the junto 
of the Stillwater beat in their first engagement at the 
foot of file Rapids 81 years ago. 

CLOTH DRESSING AND MANUFACTURING. 

The first carding of wool in the town of Ellicott wa s 
done by Simmons & Blanchar on a small single ma- 
chine built for them in Sheridan and erected in Pren- 
dergast's grist mill in 1814. In 1812 Solomon Jones 
wrote to his nephew, Daniel Hazeltine, then 17 years 
old, residing in Wardsboro, Vt., advising him to learn 
cloth dressing and come to Ellicott and set up his 
trade; that there was then no such establisliment in 
this region of countrv and one was sorely needed. He 



92 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

acted on the advice and immediately commenced an 
apprenticeship at an establishment not far from his 
home. In 1816 he came to Jamestown with 
Samnel Barrett. He immediately erected a small 
building, where the west end of Broadhead & 
Sons' worsted mills now stand, for cloth dressing and 
the next season a mnch larger one for his carding ma- 
chines and dye works. 

In those early days nearly every settler kept a few 
sheep, as many as he could protect from the wolves, 
and in nearly every log house was a spinning wheel 
and a loom. The most of the cloth for both men's 
and women's wear was made at home. In May and 
June nearly every farmer coming to the grist mill, 
brought with him one or more big bundles of wool. 
This was carded and made into rolls which were then 
taken home and spun into yarn and the 3^arn woven 
into cloth. In the fall the cloth was brought to the 
factory, scoured, fulled, colored, napped, sheared and 
pressed, then taken home and made into garments. 
Madder red and London brown were the favorite col- 
ors for women's wear. In imagination we can see a 
woman clothed with one of those dresses now. High 
in the neck and fastened together by hooks and eyes 
along the back, very short waisted, very narrow 
sleeves, skirt narrow and short, reaching to the ankle. 
A woman was seldom seen who was not clothed in one 
of these home-manufactured dresses. Calico was 
sometimes used, by those who could afford it, for 
^ dress up'' occasions. The more frequent colors for 
men's wear were black and dark l)rown. 

The largest portion of the wool grown in Chautau- 
qua county was made into rolls and the cloth dressed 
at Daniel Hazeltine's factory in Jamestown. In 1823 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 93 

Hazeltine added woaviiio; and built a]i addition to Ids 
factory, and soon after took Roljert Falconer into part- 
nership, who furnished additional capital but other- 
wise liad nothing to do with the work or nicinageinent 
of the factory. In 1830 they added a large stone 
building, increased the machinery and manufat'tured 
cloth quite extensively. 

In 1827 W. W. Chandler and his brother-in-law, J. 
W. Winsor, built a carding and cloth dressing estal> 
lishment at the lower dam. In I80O Daniel Hazeltine 
bought Chandler & Winsor 's estal:)lishment, enlarged 
it and continued manufacturing cloths with his sons 
or other partners until he retired from the business. 
Not long after his retirement the establishment was 
sold to Allen, Grandin & Co., and now, after several 
changes in ownership, it is the property of Allen, Pres- 
ton & Co. The business in the old stone factory was 
continued for a time l)y Daniel H. Grandin. About 
1847 the large frame building on the south side of 
Brooklyn square was erected by Allen & Grandin and 
used for the manufacture of cloths until Allen, Gran- 
din & Co. bought the Daniel Hazeltine factory at the 
lower dam. 

In 1818, Daniel Hazeltine married Mehitabel Be- 
mus, the youngest daughter of William and Mary 
(Prendergast) Bemus. After their marriage they oc- 
cupied apartments in an addition, made to the fadorv 
buildings. When the stone factory was built in LS,3{) 
this portion was torn down to make room for the new 
building. Previous to this, he bought the projx'rty on 
the northeast corner of Pine and Third streets, on 
which was a large one and one-half story house with a 
basement, built a year oi- more previous by William 
Knight. On this lot Di-. Lal)an Hazeltine cut his fire- 



94 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

wood in 1818. Daniel Hazeltine lived in this house 
until he bought the cloth dressing establishment at 
the lower dam, when he removed to the house belong- 
ing to the property, which was located about forty feet 
nortli of the present factory of Allen, Preston & Co. 
They liad two sons and three daughters; Susannah, 
the eldest of the daughters, became the wife of Will- 
iam Post, Esq., who was for many years a business 
man in our village. They had l)ut one child, Daniel 
Hazeltine Post, who was educated at Williams College; 
and was secretary to Gov. Feiiton when sent to France 
as a Commissioner to meet the Commissioners of Euro- 
pean Powers to regulate the currency. He was for 
some time before and after his return from France, as- 
sociated with .Jolm A. Hall in editing the Jamestown 
Journal. A year or more ago. he married Evelyn 
Newland, only daughter of Robert Newland and Eve- 
lyn (Patchin) Newland and is now a partner in a 
large manufacturing establishment in our city. His 
father and mother are both dead. The other (huigh- 
ters of Daniel and Mehitable Hazeltine died in child- 
hood. The two sons are both living and each at dif- 
ferent times were associated with their father in the 
manufacture of cloths and each have conducted that 
business on their own account. The youngest son, 
George, is still eng-aged in the manufacture of cloths, 
his factory being at North A\^arren, Pa. William 
Bemus Hazeltine has begun to experience the incon- 
venience of old age and has retired to his farm at Be- 
mus Point, which is a part of the AVilliam Bemus' pur- 
chase of 1806, and was his mother's portion of her 
father's property. He still remains however a partner 
in the Iron Manufacturing Company, in Youngstown, 
Ohio, of which lie has lono; been a meml)er. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 95 

Daniel Hazeltine when living was loved and re- 
spected by all classes and conditions of men; he was 
considered as the exemplar of a truly honest man, and 
of the true spirit of Christianity. He was truly good 
without ostentation, truly religious without bigotry; 
his benevolence was bounded only by his means to 
aid the sutfering and the needv; and it is true that he 
used means that he needed himself, in order to extend 
his charities to their utmost limit. He l)ecame a 
member of the Congregational Church at its organiz- 
ation in 1<S1(). The Church was the apple of his eye, 
lie lived for its welfare, and continued to be one of its 
most active and useful members up to h;s death Aug- 
ust .'id, 1S()7. His last words were, " I have tried to 
follow Christ, on him I rely." Meliitable (Bemus) 
Hazeltine, his nonogenarian wife still survives him, 
with faculties unimpaired. Her personal remem- 
Vminees extend from the time that her father came 
into this country in 1805 up to the present. 

Hazeltine & Falconer's w^oolen factory brought many 
new settlers into the country. Some of them remained 
for many years as operatives, and after they left the 
factory remained in the country and followed other 
pursuits. A few more promincmt among the latter 
we mention below. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Kinney. — The following 
statement was mostly furnished l)y their daughter, 
Mrs. .J. W. Upham. '•Nancy Crapsey came into the 
county in the year ISlS. She was tben nineteen years 
old. In the year 18"20 she was residing in tlie family 
of Daniel Hazeltine in the factory already mentioned, 
and continued so to do until IS-io. Hiram Kinney 
came to Chautauqua in 1S20. For the first six 
montlis be worked on the farm of Di'. Laban Hazel- 



96 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

tine. Afterwards he was employed in the woolen fac- 
tory of Daniel Plaz.eltine. In 1S50 he removed to a 
farm on what is known as Englisli Hill. On New^ 
Year's Day, 1823, Hiram Kinney w^as married to 
Nancy C'rapsey at the residence of Daniel Haz(>ltine, 
Samuel A. Brown, Esq., performing- the ceremony. 
This was among the first marriages in Jamestown. 
There were present at the wedding, besides Daniel 
Hazeltine and wife. Dr. Laban Hazeltine and wife and 
their son, Gilbert, (then about six years old,) Judge 
Prendergast and wife and their son, Alexander, and 
Robert Falconer, Esq., of Sugar Grove, who carved the 
ttirl'ey; Cliarles Bemus and wafe and two or three 
others. Some time after their marriage they removed 
to Pomfret but ere long returned to Jamestown. When 
Mrs. Kinney returned she brought w^ith her a set of 
small sauce dishes. Her old friend, Aunt Nancy 
Prendergast, almost immediately called on her, and 
Mrs. Kinney exhibited her little dishes. They were 
the first seen in town. Mrs. Prendergast viewed them 
admiringly, and then reproved Mrs. Kinney for intro- 
ducing articles of luxury into the town. 'You must 
remember we are all poor, and you are settiiig a 
bad example to those who are poorer than we.' Mrs.. 
Kinney put her little dishes aside and did not exhibit 
them again for many a day." 

The Kinneys were always earnest and active work- 
ers for the advancement of the new settlement. ^Mrs.. 
Kinney is still living, at the age of nearly ninety 
years, but with faculties unimpaired. Nothing de- 
lights her more than to meet some one who can talk 
with her of the early days. She is a fountain of anec- 
dote and early reminiscences. 

Mrs Kinney often refers to her remembrance of the 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 9? 

sermon preaclied at the dedication of the C^ongrega- 
tional cl lurch, January 1, 1830. One sentence was, 
^'In fifty years from now where will be the people who 
tread these aisles to-day?" Fifty-six years have passed 
and Mrs. Kinney and three others are the only ones 
who can be brought to mind, now living and residing 
in Jamestown, who were present on that occasion. 

Of the children of Hiram and Nancy Kinney but 
three are living; viz: Judge John J. Kinney, one of 
our prominent citizens ; Harriet, wife of one of our 
principal artists, Mr. J. W. Upham, and Hortense who 
married Mr. Lynch and is now residing in Erie, Pa. 

Chileon C. Washbukn was for many years in Dan- 
iel Hazeltine's factory. He took a great fancy to 
Thomas R. Hazzard, an uncle of Robert P. Hazzard 
of our city, and who came into the factory when a 
boy. Washburn was a bachelor and it is said edu- 
cated him. He was prepared for college at James- 
town academy, graduated at Allegany college, studied 
law in Meadville and located at Monongahela City, 
Pa., and died there several years ago 

Edwin Hazeltine a brother of Daniel Hazeltine 
and the only one of seven sons of Daniel and Susan- 
nah Hazeltine living, was for many years in the fac- 
tory. Having accumulated a sufficient amount of 
wealth he bought a farm in Busti, on which he now 
resides. He married Polly Abbott, another worker in 
the factory, and the daughter of one of the early set- 
tlers of Busti ; they had a large family. Herbert, the sec- 
ond son, who received the flag presented by the ladies * 
of Jamestown to company B., the day they started for 
the front, lies in our cemetery, a victim of the war. His 

For an account of this presentation see Appendix No. 1. 



98 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

eldest son resides in Warren, Pa. His third and fourth 
sons and two daughters reside in the west. 

Alvin Pennock, father of Jonathan P. Pennock, 
was among the early workers in this factory. He 
came to Jamestown in 1827. His wife was a sister of 
the late Ezbai Kidder. 

Henry C. Arnold, entered the factory when a 
boy. He soon evinced great genius as a portrait 
painter; the white-washed walls in all of the rooms 
were soon covered with charcoal portraits of the pro- 
prietors and the principal operatives in the factory. 
An eminent portrait painter once said of him, "that 
he was the best uneducated portrait painter he ever 
knew, and that if he could spen d a season or two in 
Europe, he would become a prominent artist of that 
class in the United States. Poverty prevented the 
consumation so much desired, and produced in him a 
misanthropy which at times was pitiable. Arnold 
was a gentleman in the true and highest meaning of 
that word during his whole life. 

He married Eliza, the youngest daughter of Sam- 
uel Knight. He followed portrait painting for a live- 
lihood, and it afforded him barely sufficient means to 
live in genteel poverty. He had four children, but 
one now living. During the latter years of his life 
he thought he was a firm believer in the doctrines 
of the German Atheistical School but it would be near- 
er the truth to call him a Transcendentalist; he cer- 
tainly was an Idealist. He was a great reader and a 
fine conversationalist. The writer was one of his 
chosen friends and sat beside his bed side when he 
died. He said to me: "You well know what my be- 
lief is: — that death is an eternal sleep. A few moments 
ago you told me that you did not think I could live 



THE TO^VX OF ELLICOTT. 99 

until morning. Doctor, I am dying now, I shall 
not live two hours, hut I am as calm and col- 
lected as if I w^as going to sleep." Finally he said 
to me: "I am admonished to make haste in 
what I wish to say to you. You know I am no 
hypocrite, and therefore it is my desire that there be 
no prayer or church singing at my burial. As an old 
friend I have a request to ask of you, will you grant 
it? " If in my power I will. " I wish you to break 
the silence over mj^ grave. When my colfin is placed 
in the ground I wish you would come forward and tell 
my old friends just how I stood. That I have tried to 
do my duty as a neighbor and as a man, but I could 
not believe different from what I have. I die with 
charity towards all, calm, happy, in full belief that 
death is the end of all things, ot all life, of all thought, 
of all pain and of all pleasure." A few minutes later he 
said, "I must say good-bye, I am going," and quickly 
he was gone. I was placed in very peculiar circum- 
stances, but bravely fulfilled my promise and have al- 
ways felt glad I did so. There was a large assemblage 
at the cemetery to observe how things were managed 
at an Atheist's funeral. 

Many others were operatives in this factory, that we 
well remember, but the most of them have been long 
dead, or many years ago removed into the great west. 

Alvin Deland, a son of Deacon William Deland, 
and father of Mrs. William Mace of our city, was for 
many years an operative in the factory and died sev- 
eral years ago. 

George Caskey, the old Scotchman from the 
banks of Ayr, the neighbor of Robert Burns, and who 
was well acquainted when a boy with Jeanic his wife. 
Caskey sorted more wool in Daniel Hazeltine's factory 



100 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

than any other man, unless it be Hiram Kinney. He 
is still living, a resident of our city, and is as thor- 
oughly educated as any one born at the foot of the 
Grampians can be, as to the length, breadth and thick- 
ness of wools, whether grown on the backs of sheep or 
goats, or picked up under the shearing tahle. orge 

knows what shoddy is, but does not deal in it himself. 
The old operators in the factory always spoke of the 
'^caruiy" Scot as, "all wool and a yard wide." 

Daniel H. Grandin, the miller in the old stone 
mill built by James Prendergast in 1833, may be 
found daily at his place of business. He came to 
Jamestown before he was fairly out of his boyhood. 
For many years his face gave light in the old factory 
of Hazeltine & Falconer. When Daniel Hazeltine 
went to the lower village he continued in the old stone 
factory under the hill. Then the big building was 
erected on the south side of Brooklyn square, it 
was Allen & Grandin and Allen, Grandin & Co. They 
bought out the Daniel Hazeltine factory at the lower 
village, and not long after the company bought 
Grandin's interest — gladly me presume; but he was not 
quite ready to retire, and bought the old grist mill and 
was soon at work again. D. H. Grandin, carded, spun 
and wove at least three-quarters of his web of life in 
the old factory and is now grinding away on the last 
quarter in the old mill. Some years hence, tlie longer 
the letter, some one will write his obituary and his 
epitaph; they can add whatever we have omitted. 

Without reference to chronological order, which a 
few persons have desired us to follow with great care, 
there comes to us the memory of an industry which 
has ceased among us, but was one of the earliest es- 
tablished here and for a long time one of the most 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 101 

prominent. We refer to the 

MAUFACTUliE OF HATS. 

We do not think a hat has been made in James- 
town in forty years, yet hatting was one of the first 
and most important of the industries estabhshed here. 
Hats were made it is said, by a man by the name of Clark 
in the town of Ellery before any were manufactured in 
Jamestown, and later Daniel Sherman, sheriff of Chau- 
tauqua county in 1826, made a few hats in Busti. 

Rufus Pier and Elmer Freeman came to James- 
town in 1816 and built a two-story shop on the south 
side of First street fronting Cherry. If the old build- 
ing was now standing it would be in front to the 
nortli of the west end of the railway passenger station, 
and about twelve feet in the air. Freeman built 
a house on the northeast corner of ( lierry and First 
streets, and Pier, two years later, on the south- 
west corner of Cherry and Second streets on the 
lot afterwards owned by Benjamin Budlong and 
now occupied by the residence of Judge Richard P. 
Marvin. Pier's house was built in 1818; in that year 
he married Katharine Blanchar, a ^ister of the wool 
carder previously mentioned. Freeman brought his 
family with him and built his house in 1816. Soon 
after he moved to the Crossroads, and resided there 
two or three years, and returned to Jamestown; (Sam- 
uel Barrett occupied the house a part of the time dur- 
ing his absence.) They manufactured hats of all kinds 
quite extensively, employing several journeymen hat- 
ters and apprentices. They made wool hats of all 
qualities, and fur hats from the common 'coon and 
muskrat to the finest beaver. 

In tliose days fur-bearing animals were abundant. 
Wharf rats were never more plenty in any locality 



102 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

than muskrats in the outlet, along the side of the lake, 
and especially about the mouth of Goose creek. The 
best of muskrat skins were bought for ten cents 
each. Mink were plenty, and beaver and otter were 
quite frequently trapped Freeman & Pier were suc- 
ceeded by Strickland & Sayles and they by Jacob Rice 
and later by Phineas Barker. In 1880 Freeman built 
shops on Main street just below the Tew buildings 
which stand on the southeast corner of Main and 
Fourth. The front shop is now standing and is occu- 
pied l)y Dr. Frank Ormes as an office. For several 
years both Freeman's factory and the old factory at the 
foot of Clierr}^ street were in full operation and the 
manufacture of hats was one of the industries of 
which Jamestown boasted. In those days the trade in 
not only furs but peltries was mostly connected with 
the hatting establishments, although the stores also 
bought furs and peltries. This business sometimes re- 
quired considerable capital. Dealers in eastern cities 
were constantly sending agents into the wilderness to 
buy up this class of merchandise and made large ad- 
vances in cash, thus enabling the earliest makers of 
hats to make purchases when otherwise they would 
not be able. Furs were among the first cash produc. 
ing articles of the country. All kinds of fur-bearing 
animals found in this locality were constantly repre- 
sented at these establishments. Foxes of all kinds, 
from the common grey to the valuable black; the pelts 
of the wolf, the deer, the l)ear, and at first, of the pan. 
ther, were seldom absent. The 'coon and the wildcat 
('lynx) were abundant. The pelt of the lamb went, of 
course, to the hatters, and "deacon skins" were then 
cured with the hair on and used in covering trunks. 
At an early day plenty of Indians could alwa^^s be 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 103 

found lounging about the hat shops, bartering pelts, 
especially that of the wolf After his wolfship (they 
were obliged to bring the entire animal) had been 
shown the Justice, the ears cut off by him and the 
tw^enty-five dollars bounty paid, the pelt was then re- 
moved and sold. * 

Septimus Perkins, W. W. Lathrop and W. H. 
Whittaker were the last of Jamestown's hat manufac- 
turers. Perkins was in company and succeeded Free- 
man in the business. He manufactured largely but 
soon began to introduce custom hats and other goods. 
He married Eunice Crosby, a sister of the late Samuel 
Crosby and niece of the late Samuel Barrett. When 
it became apparent that it was cheaper to buy hats in 
New York than to make them here, Perkins ceased to 
be a hatter, but he still lives and prospers in our midst 
as a dyer and reviver of old coats and dresses. He has 
had much experience over the dyer's vat, and what- 
ever he undertakes he generally does well, and proba- 
bly will continue to dye as long as he lives — it villi 
never he too late for him to die. 

Lathrop came to Jamestown a young man and a 
hatter by trade and married a daughter of the late 
Wm. Willson. Miss Florelle Lathrop, one of the 
teachers in our union school, is a daughter of his. Per- 
kins and Latlu'op were lively competitors in the hat 
trade and for several years they made the "fur fly." 
Lathrop enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war and 
never returned. He fought his last battle atCha2:)ulte- 
pec. We do not think that Wbittaker ever made hats, 
he probably was the first of the hat merchants. 

In early daj^s the skins of the bear and the wolf 

* The premium for wolf scalps varied from $10 to $15, even up 
to $35 at one time. 



104 THE EARLY HJ STORY OF 

were in common use in the place of Buffalo robes, and 
always brought good prices, and these animals, al- 
though not then abundant, were not uncommon as 
late as 1839. Fifteen years earlier, and previous to 
that time, the swamp along the outlet seemed to be their 
favorit:^ rendezvous. In the spring of 1839 a large 
bear entered the pig pen of Loring Johnson, located on 
the northwest corner of Third street and Prendergast 
avenue, and carried away a hog which, it was said, 
would weigh nearly two hundred pounds. Up near 
where M. L. Fenton's residence now stands lie halted 
and made a meal of pork and then proceeded on his 
way. Next morning about a dozen of us sallied out in 
pursuit. We expected his bearship would make for 
the swamp, now jVInrvin Park, and from there by one 
of three routes for the great ( 'onewango swamp. Jacob 
Rice, our -most noted hunter, and myself were directed 
to go to the log slide on the south side of the outlet 
and there remain. This slide was down from the most 
prominent and highest portion of the ridge, about 
midway from tlie Steele street bridge to the railway 
bridge. We had been there not more than twenty 
minutes before the bear came crashing along through 
the underbrush below% and between us and the outlet. 
He passed just five rods from us and for the distance 
of seventy feet was in plain sight; and as he passed he 
stopped and looked up at us. Jacob although an old 
and experienced hunter would not fire nor permit me 
to do so. When we got back to the Main street bridge 
Jacob said he never felt so ashamed in his life. He 
would not cross the bridge with me but went down 
stream several rods wliere the stream was shallow 
waded across and went liome. His house was where 
Institute street connnences at Second street. He was 



THE TOW X OF ELLICOTT. 105 

not seen for several days. The bear slept that night at 
home m the Con ewan go swamp. We may be mistaken 
but do believe we could to-day boast of shooting an 
enormous black bear, had we been able to wrench our 
rifle from tlie firm grasp of Jacob Rice, the oldest and 
most experienced hunter in the country. 

We have a better bear story, and aUhough con- 
trary to chronological rules, our friend is so anxious for 
us to follow, we sliall have no b(>tter opportunitv than 
the present to relate it. 

It must have been as long ago as 1S22, that Gen. 
Thos. W. Harvey, for a long time, had a pet l^lack 
bear chained up in his blacksmith shop. Chubby was 
a comical follow, and had many romps with the boys, 
who would stop on their way to the IMne street school 
house to play with him, — and many a ferruHug did 
those same boys receive from Henry Gitfbrd, the 
teacher, for being late to school. Chubby was as much 
of a gentleman as any of his kind, whether walkino- 
on two or four legs, and it is certainly the correct thing 
to rescue his memory from total oblivion, although we 
must confess, there is little use in trying to civilize and 
educate a bear. Chub became unusually tame, and 
when permitted would follow the General wherever he 
went. One day he allowed him to follow him to the 
woods — not far from tlie south end of I^ake View Ave- 
nue — and near where he was captured the year previ- 
ous. He suddenly disappeared and never returned ; 
it was supposed that there was some relative of his near 
watcliing for him wlio took him home. 

The following is the history of his capture. In 
returning home one afternoon from an excursion into 
the forest, Jehial Tiffany saw a l)ea,r and cubs clind)- 
ing into a large hcudock. He came immediately to 



106 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

town for his rifle, and Gen. Harvey, Samuel Barrett, 
Phineas Palmiter and others, with their rifles, started 
out in pursuit. Arriving at the place, a cub was dis- 
covered on one of the branches; the crack of Pahniter's 
rifle and the falling of a dead bear almost instantly 
followed. Presently Harvey brought down a second 
young bear. The party waited and watched the thick 
clump of hemlocks for a long time, but the old bear 
could not be discovered. Tiflany was of the opinion 
there were no more cubs, and that Mrs. Bruin had 
taken a walk down the hill into the swamp. All of 
the party returned excepting the persons we have 
named. After a time another cub was discovered by Mr. 
Barrett in a hemlock tree near by, and he claimed it by 
the right of discovery and forbade any one pointing 
his gun in that direction. "Mr. Barrett, is it your in- 
tention to whistle him down?" Titfany iiiquired. "Ma- 
jor, do you expect the enemy to advance by a forward 
or flank movement, or do you expect him to come to 
you, as Carpenter would say, cabin ee'nd formost?" was 
the enquiry of the General. "He ife going to put salt 
on his tail," was the reply of Capt. Phin. "Gentlemen 
you are very military in your language, and not to be 
beat I will say that I am ])reparing to storm the ene- 
my's position," at the same time pulling off his boots. 
"Any corporal can shoot a cub if he has a good cliance, 
but it takes a Major to take one prisoner," and ])yo- 
ceeded to climb the tree to shake him oft", directing 
that no one should shoot liim without it was likely he 
would escape. "Advance forlorn hope," cries Harvey. 
"Yes, you make a splendid captain of a rifle company 
in time of peace, but in time of war I would rather 
trust Capt. Phin. ; he has smelt powder and fought for 
his har. You are too big a cowai;d to lead, and too big 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 107 

in body to run. A squaw would tomahawk you before 
you could turn around," was Barrett's tart reply. " I 
^ive in Major, you carry too many guns in your mouth 
for me. Hurry up that tree and throw down that bear. 
I will catch him as he conies down," replies Harvey. 
The cul) had crawled out near the end of one of the 
uppermost branches, Barrett followed, and soon shook 
him otf, but he caught to a larger limb below. He 
tried to shake him from this but the limb was too 
large. At this time he espied the old bear letting her- 
self down from the branches of an adjacent tree. 
•*'Look out, boys, I see the old bear on the next tree. 
She is coming the way Carpenter talks about. Be 
ready for her." Mrs. Bruin seemed to be aware of her 
danger and scrambled back again into the top of the 
tree. Barrett, with a stout jack knife, finally succeeded 
in cutting the limb so that the weight of the bear bent 
it down sufficiently to cause him to slide off. Before 
he recovered from the stunning effects of the fall, Har- 
vey and Tiffany, succeeded in securely tying together 
his bearship's liand}'^ paws with the cords of their pow- 
der horns, and Palmiter had buckled the leather guard 
cap of his fiint-lock gun around his jaws. During the 
time they were thus engaged, and Barrett was making 
his way out of the tree, the old bear took the opportun- 
ity to back down from the tree and make for the bushes 
at the moment she was discovered. Barrett claimed 
the young bear as his own, but declared he would sur- 
render his title, and give each of his companions a 
dollar for the old bear's hide. He had had her in plain 
view, she was very large and intensely l)lack. "l*ut 
on your boots and get your gun, and I will call her up 
for you," said Harvey. The hunters having taken the 
.stations assigned to them, Harvev carefully removed 



108 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Palmiter's lock guard from the young bear's mouth, 
and by pinching him tried to make him squeak Har- 
vey deckired that the httle brute rather enjoyed it, and 
was more inclined to play than to either scratch or 
bite or squeal. They Ijeganto despair of procuring the 
desired pelt for Barrett, when a liappy thought arose 
in Mr. Tiffany's mind. "C'apt. Harvey, the ear is a 
very tender part of animals as well as of liuman be- 
ings. You have good teeth. Permit me to suggest 
that you bite the young bear's ear. I think it will in- 
cline him to ask the assistance of his doting mother, 
who, I doubt not, is near at hand, watching the oppor- 
tunity of affording assistance to her unfortunate off- 
spring." "A good suggestion, Jehial, and expressed in 
your usual laconic style. You never use any unnecessary 
words. I will try it." In a moment the beast howled 
with pain, and Palmiter caught an uncertain glimpse 
of her in tlie bushes and fired, with the effect of bring- 
ing her in full view of Barrett, who brought her down. 
One of tlie balls had taken effect in her head and the 
other in her neck, either of which would have proved 
mortal in a few minutes. The bear was an unusually 
large one, and more tlian three men could conveniently 
carry. Harvey carried the cul) down in his arms and 
became much attaclied to him. The old bear was very 
fat as well as the cubs, and was not the mother, as they 
had supposed. Nearly every one in Jamestown was 
remembered in the distribution, and had either bear 
or cub meat for dinner. Harvey treated his young 
bear with great kindness, and was grieved when he 
gave him the slip. Barrett boasted having the largest 
and best bear skin in the country. Two or three years 
afterwards it was stolen from liis cutter, and although 
he was confident he knew who stole it, he never recov- 
ered it. 



CHAPTER V. 



Rapid Advance of the Arts and Sciences — Tan- 
ning AND Tanners — Stevens, Grout, Barrett, 
Barker, Foote, Fenton, Hutton and Others — 
Logging Bees — Black Salts Asheries — Cross 
Bows and Chipmunks — Pottery — Fenton, 
Whittemore — A Valuable Calf — Axe Helves 
and Ox Yokes — Joseph Smiley, Jeremiah 
Griffith — Saddles and Harness — Silas Shear- 
man, 



^T'^ T'E frequently have rung in our ears, '■Hhe rapid 
^ ^ advancement of the Arts and Scieuces,^^ and in 
our own day their advancement has been truly astonish- 
ing, and they have become so intimately connected, that 
it is difficult to point out the exact l)oundaries of either. 
Science, on which all arts so intimately depend, is of 
modern origin, and yet many of the more useful arts 
were brought to the greatest perfection in ancient 
times. The urgent necessities of mankind, called out 
man's inventive genius, to supply what now, Science 
gives us. The arts of the tanner, the potter and the 
dyer, were at first rude, but by constant practice they 



110 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

were brought to the greatest perfection, although the- 
artizans were ignorant of the scientific fact, on which 
those arts are based. 

Arts are scientific knowledge apphed to useful pur- 
poses. kScience discovers and teaches us the causes, — 
art elucidates the effects. Science inquires into the 
properties and actions of natural agents, and art uses 
them for the comfort of man. On the basis of previ- 
ously acquired science, man has invented hundreds of 
new arts, impossible to his unaided genius. With its 
aid he ascends above the clouds and descends into 
the abyss of the ocean. He has annihilated time 
and space, and more quickly than the earth can 
turn on its axis, sends his messages to its remotest 
bounds. Man's genius o,000 years ago built a 
wooden horse, filled it with soldiers, and drew it, a 
deceitful gift into ancient Troy, and thus caused its 
downfall. In our own day, the arts of man, guided by 
science, imprison water in an iron horse, harnesses it tO' 
a train of his cars which will carry a thousand soldiers; 
tortures it with fire, and compels it to drag the huge 
load a distance greater than that from ancient Athens 
to Byzantium between the rising and the setting of the- 
sun. Modern art, aided by science, has caged the 
lightning, and made it his servant. He compels it not 
only to turn his wheels and to light his cities, but to. 
carry his messages in a few moments to the remotest 
parts of the earth, and to bring back the answers. It 
has become so obedient to the art of man, that now it 
conveys our spoken words, our own A^oices, our own 
songs, to friends hundreds of miles away. Truly may 
we say that the advancement of the arts and sciences- 
has been rapid. The truths of to-day far exceed the- 
wildest dreams of all past ages. If the Science on which 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. Ill 

these arts are founded was unknow' n to us, the miracles 
of to-day w^ould far exceed the miracles of the past. 



TANNING AND CURRYING. 

In 1816 a man by tlie name of Burget laid down 
some vats and put up a bark mill near where the water 
tank at the railway station now stands, west of the west 
line of Cherry street, if extended to the race. This com- 
mencement of a tannery was liouglit by Phineas Stev- 
ens, wdio in the fall of 1817 completed a tannery and 
currying shop on that location. He also built in 1817 
a fair sized story and a half house on the south side of 
Second street precisely where the Ahlstrom piano fac- 
tory now stands. 

Samuel Barrett came to the Rapids with Daniel 
Hazeltine in the summer of 1816, and returned east in 
1817 with Royal Keyes; both came west again in 1818 
from Wardsborough, Vt., with their wives. Salmon 
Grout became this 3'ear the partner of Stevens, and 
Barrett worked in the establishment. During the next 
winter Barrett bought out Grout and became a partner 
of Stevens in the tannery, and placed Wilford Barker, 
a younger brother of General Leverett Barker of Fre- 
donia, in tho tannery to look after his interests. Wil- 
ford Barker and Isaac Boss were the first to learn the 
tanning trade with General Barker in Fredonia. Boss 
settled in Forestville in this county, and Barker came 
to Jamestown.* Barrett and Barker afterwards bought 
out Stevens. The latter with Grout, his former partner, 
then built a large tannery on the high l)ank south of 
Stevens's house on Second street. We shall ahvays re- 
member the big ox horns on each end of the roof of 

that large three-story building. 

* The writer married the only daughter of Isaac Boss in 1843. 



112 THE p:akly history of 

Speaking of this tannery brings to the writer's 
memory the first gymnastic performances he ever 
witnessed. Sol. and Phin. Stevens and Sol. Jones 
(our present respected citizen Solomon Jones, Esq,,) 
rigged up a cm'tain in the currying room, behind 
which they would dress up in Indian and other fan- 
tastic styles, paint their laces and then appear and 
perform Indian and gymnastic feats much to the 
astonishment and edification of their audience which 
consisted generally of Gust, and Dasc. Allen, Niles and 
Ben. Budlong, Mart, and Ebe. Forbes, Hull and Horace 
Freeman, the writer, and occasionally a few others. 
We considered the performance astonishing. 

Stevens removed from town at least fifty-five years 
ago, and Grout a few years later moved to Kalamazoo, 
Mich., and there started a tannery. Capt. John Frank 
established the first tannery in Busti at what was for- 
merly called the Frank Settlement, and Capt. John 
Brown one at Sugar Grove. The tannery at the foot 
of Cherry street was sold in the year 1828 to James 
Clark, at which time Barrett permanently retired from 
the business. The Stevens and Grout tannery passed 
into the hands of Titus Kellogg and Elias Havens and 
later into the hands of N. K. Ransom & Co. That 
building was abandoned as a tannery in 1837. In the 
fall of 1830 Wilford Barker and William N. Eddy 
formed a copartnership and built a tannery on the 
south side of the stream at the lower dam, on the w^est 
side of the road. Tliis tannery had several owners 
and finally fell into the hands of the late Richard W. 
Arnold (better known as Blind Arnold.) He was an 
energetic man and conducted the establishment suc- 
cessfully up to the time of his death. For several 
years he had as a partner Lewis Hazzard, now de- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 113 

ceased. In 1833 Titus Kellogg built a tannery on the 
opposite side of the road from Arnold on ground now 
•occupied in part by the Breed furniture manufactory. 
This was sold live years afterwards to a firm composed 
of Elial T. Foote, R. Fletcher Fenton and Wilford Bar- 
ker. The latter sold his interest to M. W. Hutton in 
1850 and in the fall of that year all the partners sold 
to Hutton, Bradley & Co. The same year Gen. Horace 
Allen erected a large tannery on what is Allen street 
on the site of the tannery lately owned by the Barkers. 
In 1855 this property was purchased by Wilford Bar- 
ker. It was totally destroyed by fire in 1857 and re- 
built the next 3'ear. It was conducted as a tannery by 
the Barker family until a short time ago. Several tan- 
neries were erected in this vicinity between 1815 and 
1825, the most prominent of vvliicli was Frank's, a mile 
this side of Frewsburg. 

Soon after Hutton, Bradley & Co., bought the tan- 
nery aljove spoken of, one of the former owners paid 
Hutton a visit. They had angry words and by acci- 
dent the visitor stepped into tlie lime* vat. Hutton 
hooked him out as speedily as possible and pushed 
him into what tanners call the pool, a vat of clean, 
fresh water. After being drawn from the pool the per- 
son was very angry, and accused Hutton of pushing 
him in, and threatened to prosecute him. Hutton told 
him he did not push him into the lime vat, that his 
foot slipped and he fell in, but that he did push him 
into the pool to wash off the lime; if he had not he 
would have liad no hair and little skin remaining. 
Said Hutton, " if you would use less angry words, and 
be more careful where you placed your foot, when you 
come into this tannery, you would be drier than you 
are now; you won't prosecute, you would not have this 



114 THE EAULY inSTOUAOF 

known tor all you are worth. I shall never speak of 
it, neither wall you." 

ASIIERIES. 

Whe]i the country was new the hard wood timber 
was cut into twelve or sixteen-foot lengths, put into 
log heaps and burned on the ground; the ashes were 
leached, and boiled dowai into a black, more or less 
solid mass called "black salts." This was one of the 
industries of the country. Logging bees, as the}' were 
called, were times of jollity and were frequent sixty 
years ago or more. A settler would cut down the for- 
est on from three to ten acres, cut and pile the brush 
and cut the trunks into suitable lengths for logging. 
On a certain day by invitations previously given out, 
his neighbors for miles around gathered together with 
their teams and put the logs into heaps for burning. 
Certain persons who were experts at this business were 
always invited and seldom absent. The logs on a fal- 
low, as it was called, of five or ten acres, would 
be put into heaps in half a day or a little more; 
then the loggers held high carni^•al — had a ^'higJi, old 
thner as they express it nowadays. Several enormous 
Johnny cakes baked on boards, split, and raw fat pork 
cut thin, sandwiched between„a roast of venison, or of 
bear's meat, washed down with corn juice, softened by 
a tub of water soured by vinegar, and sweetened by 
maple molasses, was the evening feast. These logging 
bees generally terminated in a scene of gluttony and 
drunkenness, heavily spiced with log rolling brag- 
ging, stories of wolf or bear killing, wrestling, and not 
unfrequently in a fight. The ashes remaining after 
the burning of the heaps were collected, leached and 
boiled down into a black, caustic, villainous mass to 
handle called black salts. At the asheries it was 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 115 

converted into pot and pearl ashes, and these were sent 
east and made into saleratus. The iirst ashery in 
this section was erected by Jediah E. Budlon.^, a Httle 
north of Parks & Hazzard's boot and shoe factory. The 
second and most important one was erected by Alvin 
Plumb in 1824 on the southeast corner of where First 
and Washington streets would be if that locality luid 
not been left high in the air by the deep cut for the 
railway. 

When the country was new, black salts were a very 
important article of trade, and the only cash article 
the settler produced. In those days nearly all trade 
was what was then termed '^harierf that is the settler 
took the merchant's goods at the most fabulous high 
prices, and paid for the same with what he had, at 
prices as fal)ulously low; but taxes, if nothing else, re- 
quired the cash, and black salts would always com- 
mand cash at some price. We have seen black salts 
of all consistences, from a soft mass like fresh putty up 
to the liardness of stone; that which was neither soft 
or hard was the most esteemed. 

On the field where the ashes were leached and the 
lye boiled dovvai, the salts were generally poured from 
the kettle wdiile hot and fluid into troughs 10 or 12 
feet long, dug from a log with one end deeply notched 
to receive a chain. When all was ready a yoke 
of cattle w^ould be hitched to the trough and away 
it went with its contents to the nearest ashery. At 
the ashery this black mass was placed in large, 
low ovens and subjected to an intense heat for several 
hours. When the heated mass put on a certain grey- 
ish hue it was hauled out of the ovens and left to cool 
on the broad brick hearth. When cold it was pearly 
white and received the name of pearl-ash. In early 



IIG THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

davii pearl-ash was used for the same purposes in cook- 
ery as saleratus or baking powders now are. A very 
small portion of what was manufactured was used in 
the country but was placed in large heavy barrels and 
sent to New York. During tlie years this country was 
being denuded of its heavy hard wood forests, pearl- 
ash was the most protitable of tlie cash products of the 
country. Many a settler would have failed to pay for 
his farm had it not been for the black salts. 

Speaking of Plumb's ashery brings to mind Hor- 
atio Dix. '^ William Blanchar and Charles Barnes 
had made for themselves crossbows with which they 
could kill a chipmunk nearly every time. Asahael 
Scofield, who was the pearler of salts in Plumb's ash- 
ery, undertook to make one for the writer that would 
equal those owned by the other bo3^s. He worked up- 
on it for nearly a week, f Price, one tip — if we would 
bring him three chipmunks shot with it l)y us during 
the afternoon. We went over near the locks where 
Warner's saw mill now stands and in less than two 
hours returned with several of the striped rodents as 
trophies of skill with the crossbow. A few days after- 
wards we were induced to sell the crossbow to Charles 
Barnes for two shillings, who sold it to Gust fUlen for 
a dollar. Scotield asked two dollars to make another 
as good, and declared it Was worth three dollars. Gen- 
eral Thomas W. Harvey learning how vce had been 
swindled, made two steel bows, one for Hull Freeman 
and one for myself; Scotield neatly stocked them and 
Elmer Freeman, (Hull's father,) donated first quality 
catgut strings. Each crossbow was accompanied by a 
dozen straight, ironwood, pewter-pointed arrows. The 

* Son of Captain Horatio Dix; he was killed in the Mexican war. 
f Six and one fourth cents. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. Ill 

presentation took place about two weeks after, with a 
handsome speech from Mr. Freeman, in w^hich he set 
forth that it was necessary that the country have de- 
fenders; that but a few years ago we were at war with 
England, and soon might be again; and that cross- 
bows were as good as muskets j^»yv)tu'^,/dc^ we were vecif 
enough; that if there should be no war, the woods were 
full of "va/'viints" of which it was expected Hull and 
myself would kill our full share when driving the 
cows to and from the pasture, and if we saw a bear to 
be sure and bring him in. Chipmunks soon became 
scarce at the locks and along the roadside to the pas- 
ture. Sometime after this some Indian boys learned 
the town boys the use of the bow and arrows and cross- 
bows were supersceded by them; they cost much less, 
and were fully as effective, after the skill to use them 
had been acquired. For three or four years they were 
all the rage and the boys were constantly having shoot- 
ing matches. The side that got beat had to dress the 
game and get their mothers to cook it for the party. 
We had game suppers for a long time as often as once 
a week. At first red and cliip squirrels were the game 
killed, but after a time black squirrels, partridges and 
other game showing the use of the rifle came in and our 
mothers " cavu: l)acl\ on. ?/.s'," refused to prepare tlie 
meals, and oin* shooting matches came to an inglor- 
ious end. 

I'OTTKltV. 

The manufacture of earthenware was one of the 
earliest industries at the Rapids. Wm. H. Fcnton 
came into this dountry in 1814 with his father, Jacob 
Fenton, and established a pottery, between First and 
Second streets. Potter's alley took its name from this 
pottery. Wm. H. Fenton is still living, in the eastern 



lis THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

portion of our city and, although over ninety years of 
age, is smart, active, in good health, and enjoys life as 
well as he ever did. Wo met him a few days ago, 
walking erect and with Ih-m steps in our streets. In 
reply to our enquiry, "Does not walking weary you?" 
he replied "Weary liie? I have walked all the way 
from Dexterville this morning and am not weary yet, 
and I do not expect to be, until I have walked a1)out 
town a good deal in the accomplishment of my busi- 
ness and then walked home. When I get home I 
may feel a little tired, but not before. I come up town 
frequently, and always walk and never think of be- 
ing tired." Fenton has been among the foremost and 
most active men of Ellicott, in looking after and car- 
ing for its welfare. He has tilled many prominent 
positions in the gift of the town and if any one needed 
counsel or advice he would go to Fenton, and that ad- 
vice would be founded on what he considered strict 
justice. We may now write him down " leather of El- 
licott " with the honorable affix^ — Einei'itus. 

x\fter the death of his father in 1822, Wm. H. 
Fenton removed his pottery establishment to what is 
now Fluvanna, to be nearer the clay used. The Fen- 
tons, father and son, were engaged in the manufac- 
ture of this ware from 1814 to 1826, at which time W. 
H. Fenton took as a partner Samuel Whittemore. 

In a letter received from Henry A. Whittemore a 
short time since, he states that "My father and ftimily 
arrived in .Jamestown at noon. May 5, 1822, and 
stopped at a tavern kept by Solomon Jones, for din- 
ner, and at evening they reached the Point (Fluvanna) 
where W. H. Fenton was carrying on the pottery busi- 
ness and where a Mr. Smith was keeping tavern. Mr. 
Fenton soon learned that Mr. Whittemore ^^'as a pot- 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 119 

ter, and insisted on himself and wife being- his guests 
for the night. The next morning Mr. Whittemore 
found his horse was very hime, and was detained sev- 
eral days on that account. Fenton had a kiln of ware 
nearly ready for burning, and as his help was sick, 
induced Whittemore to. remain a few days longer and 
assist him to complete and burn the kiln. Before the 
kiln was completed P'enton and Whittemore entered 
into a copartnership which continued neai'ly twenty 
years." 

To illustrate a very common way of settling ac- 
counts in early times, H. A. Whittemore writes: "Dur- 
ing the twenty years, Fenton and my father had but 
three settlements of their accounts, and that by the 
shortest method, by 'jumping,' wliieh was satisfactory 
to both parties." During their manufacture of pottery 
the}" kept men on the road peddling tlie ware after 
the manner of our tin peddlers of to-day, taking in ex- 
change anything that the farmers had to spare. 

An anecdote is related of Whittemore persoiially, 
which shows that he had the true spirit of a Yankee 
peddler — to trade for anything, no matter what, and 
trust the result to luck. One day he stopped his 
crockery wagon before a farm house not far from 
Westtield. After looking over the ware the farmer 
offered Whittemore a calf three days old for six milk 
pans. "Bring an your calf," says \\'hitteniore, and de- 
posited six pans on a bench near the house. The calf 
was brought and placed on some straw in the wagon. 
Wliittemore said he had a friend living three or four 
miles from there who he thought would care for the 
calf for the time being. If not, he would make him a 
present of it. His friend took thejob ofkeeping the calf 
alive and well for five weeks for tenmilk pans. The farm- 



]20 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

erwho sold Whittemore the calf was noted for having 
the best stock in the county and selling it for enor- 
mous prices. The man who had taken the infantile 
beef to wet nurse, made inquiries and found that the 
specimen in his charge was of the best blood in the 
country. The farmer had especial reasons for not 
wishing to raise it, and sold it to Whittemore for little 
or nothing, supposing it would die before he got home, 
or would shortly be slaughtered for veal. Al)out four 
weeks after, Whittemore wrote to his friend, inquiring 
after his calf. In a few days he received a note say- 
ing the calf was doing well and was a good one; that 
he would give him five dollars for it, or would deliver 
it to him at Fluvanna for three dollars. Whittemore 
said he thouglit five dollars was enough for sixteen 
milk pans and let his friend have the calf; but would 
add, " I was a little sorry afterwards when I learned 
the facts in the case, and also that, when three months 
old, my calf was sold for |50." 

Fenton & Whittemore turned out a kiln of ware 
worth from $200 to |250 every two weeks. The clay 
of which they made their ware was dug from the bed 
of the lake about 300 feet above what was then known 
as Sammis's Point, now as Prendergast's. Fenton and 
Whittemore having given up the pottery business, Fen- 
ton returned to Jamestown in 1839, and for many years 
was the principal Justice of the Peace of the town. 
Whittemore l)uilt a hotel which from time to time he 
enlarged. It was strictly a temperance house. Whit- 
temore may be called the originator of the idea that 
Chautauqua lake is an excellent place for a summer 
retreat. His house was in summer filled with guests 
for many years before an}^ one else entertained the idea. 
This pioneer summer resort on Chautauqua lake, since 



THE TOW N OF ELLICOTT. 121 

the death of Samuel Whittemore in 1874, lias been con- 
ducted b}' his son. Samuel Whittemore was postmas- 
ter at Fluvanna for nearly fortv-eioht years. 

AXE HELVES AND OX YOKES. 

There are two small industries of an earlv day that 
we particularly desire to mention, not because of their 
importance, but as illustrating; the vast superiority of 
some persons to others in the manufacture of very sim- 
ple articles of trade. We liave reference to axe helves 
and ox yokes. The Indians were among the earliest 
axe handle makers, and several early settlers gained 
some reputation as makers of good helves; but not until 
Elvin and Thomas Hunt came into the county, was 
any particular preference shown. They very soon ed- 
ucated the chopping community to use no other than 
a Hunt helve provided they could obtain one, although 
they sold at a higher price than others. We know not 
in what this superiorit}^ consisted, but even a bo}^ who 
knew nothing about chopping w^ould at once perceive 
that they were a beautifully finished, smooth and 
handsome stick, when compared with others. We 
notice that lately some one sent Gladstone several 
American axe helves, and that he gives the English 
helve the preference because the end of the American 
helve was sloping. If he Jiad seen one of Elv. Hunt's 
handles, we believe he would have come to a different 
conclusion. Hunt has been dead many years; we have 
not as yet learned that any one fell heir to liis art and 
method of making axe helves. 

Joseph Smiley, — Very much the same jnight be 
remarked about ox yokes. Joseph Smiley (wIjo came 
into the county in 1800, and was noted fordiis strength) 
was considered the only man who could make a good 
yoke. Any one having a pair of oxen expected them 



122 THE EARLY IIISTOKY OF 

to crowd, or brace and pull against each other, and 
otherwise act badly, if not harnessed with one of Smi- 
ley's yokes. We know not who makes ox yokes now, 
or during the many years since Smiley's death. Per- 
haps some one makes a yoke equal to Smiley's, but w^e 
very much doubt it. 

A son of Joseph Smiley now lives on the farm 
taken up by his father nearly eighty years ago, when 
the wilderness with which Chautauqua lake was then 
surrounded was almost unbroken by the less than half 
a dozen settlers on its banks. For over seventy years 
he has lived on the shore of the lake, he has seen the 
wilderness converted into cultivated fields. He can look 
back and see the Durhanis from Pittsburg slowly and 
wearily plowing their way to Mayville. Afterwards 
the fiat boats with their small sails, then the logy old 
horse boat, and the saucy little Mink under the com- 
mand of the jolly Capt. Carpenter. Then came the 
steamboats. He has stood on the banks of Smiley's 
bay, near tlie old home of his stalwart father and wit- 
nessed the panorama Chautauqua has furnished dur- 
ing the period of seventy years. 

Jeremiah Griffith. — As we shall have a no more 
convenient opportunity, we propose here to place in 
the same yoke with Joseph Smiley his old friend and 
neighbor, Jeremiah Griffith. True, both of these men 
and Wm. Bemus, of whom we have spoken at some 
length, belonged to the town of Ellery, nevertheless a 
history of Ellicott that did not mention them would be 
incomplete. It is true they lived a mile or two beyond 
the east boundary of the town, but they were part and 
parcel of those early settlements and neighborhoods of 
which it has been our intent to speak of as among the 
-earlv settlers of the town of Ellicott. We cannot con- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 123 

fine ourselves too closely to the limit of a town line. 

Jeremiah Grifiith. whose wife (Maiy Crapsey) was 
an aunt of Mrs. Hiram Kinney, already spoken ot, was 
a native of Connecticut. He came west w^ien a youug- 
man, stopping first in the valley of the Mohawk, but 
•during- the first year of the present century became an 
inliabitant of Madison Co. In the winter of 1805 and 
1806 he left Madison county with his wife and large 
family of children, on a sled drawn by oxen, in search 
of a more congenial home in the great wilderness of 
the west. AVith no location especially in view, he did 
not intend to stop until he had reached the state of 
Ohio. Being a native of Old Connecticut, it would be 
natural if he had fixed his mind on the New Connecticut, 
as the Western Reserve was commonly called. Arriv- 
ing at Batavia, that border town, in which so many 
had already been influenced to turn aside from and 
shorten their course, he was advised, when he arrived 
at the cross roads, to stop two or three days and take a 
look at the lands bordering on Chautauqua lake, one 
of the most beautiful bodies of water on the continent. 
There he would find the richest soil and one of the 
most healthy of locations; superior in every particular 
to any thing of which Ohio could boast. 

Arriving at the cross roads he left his family at 
Widow McHenry's tavern, and, with his eldest sons, 
passed over the ridge into the valley of the Chautau- 
qua.* Traveling on the ice of the lake they followed 
down near the shore looking at the land. Arriving at 
the Narrows they found Wm. Bemus and his family, 
who had been in their new log-house home only eight 
or nine days Mr. Bemus advised them to visit an old 
Indian camp about lln-ee miles down the lake from his 
house, and which he })i'onouncod the most desirable 



124 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

location on that side of the hike, next to his own. He 
said that near a small prominence jutting into the lake 
Avas a grove of second growth chestnuts, and a partial 
clearing of several acres, on which were oJd corn hills 
and other evidences of cultivation. That the place 
undoubtedly marked the location of a former Indian 
Adllage, and that he had already learned to his satis- 
faction that Indians never made mistakes in locating 
their homes. That there was now no snow upon the 
ground, and that the ice was yet strong enough to 
make traveling on the lake with a horse safe, and that 
he would hitcli up one of his horses and accompany 
them to the place indicated. The offer was accepted 
and the location examined, and Mr. Griffith decided 
to there make his home immediately, as his family 
were with him and he was compelled to have a 
home somewhere He returned to the cross roads, 
and in two or three days had his family, his ox 
team, and five head of cattle, among which were 
three cows and a few sheep, on the bank of the 
lake at Mayville. One of the boys drove the oxen 
and other stock along a trail near the beach to the 
Narrows; while Mr. Griffith and other children large 
enough, drew the sled containing the mother and 
smaller cliildren and the household goods down the 
lake on the ice. The weather had become extremely 
cold and stormy, and the undertaking proved a very 
arduous and perilous one. The snow storm was un- 
usually severe, and they considered themselves ex- 
tremely lucky in finding the shore, — whereabouts they 
knew not. By the side of a fallen tree they kindled a 
fire of brush and there camped for the night. The 
next morning they reached Mr. Bemus's house, and he,, 
with all the forces at his command, turned out and 



THE TO\V>; OF ELLICOTT. 135 

assisted his only neighbor to reach his new home in the 
forest, and to build for him a shelter of hemlock brusli, 
all they could then do for his comfort, except that one 
of the men turned hunter and brought in a fine fat 
deer, which was a great addition to their scanty means 
of subsistence. That night they occupied their brush 
shelter. It protected them from the severe cold and 
the heavy snow that had fallen. They were all alone 
in the dense wilderness, their nearest and only neigh- 
bor was three miles away, nevertheless they were con- 
tented and happy. After the day's hard labor tlie 
*'wolf's long howl" was as soothing to the weary wander- 
ers as is the mother's soft lullaby to her infant child, and 
they slept soundly. They, unaided, built a log cabin 
into which at evening of the third day they moved 
from their shelter of brush. Although wanting many 
of the comforts of a good log house, they were hapj)}" 
and thankful after so many days wandering on an ox 
.sled in an inclement winter, they were once more 
seated by their own protecting fireside. The thankful- 
ness of present contentment beamed in every face, and 
they retired to their humble cots to dream of other 
comforts to be added in the near future, as the rewards 
of their industry and perseverance. 

The}^ had already most clearly perceived, that if 
they were to live and prosper in their wilderness loca- 
tion, a herculean labor was before them. They ac- 
cepted the situation and went cheerfully to work. 
Stout arms were moved by brave hearts, and during 
the short time intervening between their arrival in 
March and planting time, they cleared and made ready 
over six acres of the land for seed. Whether this was 
all or in part, on the partially cleared indian portion 
we are not informed. In due season corn, potatoes and 



]^26 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Other vegetables were planted, and a couple of acres were 
sowed witli oats; and a large garden was not forgot- 
ten They planted with the full trust and expectation 
of reapmg a rich autumnal harvest which would 
bountifully supply their wants during another wniter. 
But starvation was already staring them ni the face, a 
fact of whicli they did not seem conscious until its near 
approach. True, their three cows were furnishing: 
them milk, the forest gave them venison, and the lake 
yielded fish, but to live without either bread or pota- 
toes was a contingency they had not weighed. Iliey 
had become acquainted with the men who made occa- 
sional trips with Miles' canoe, and also with some south- 
ern boatman. They learned that potatoes and corn 
were procurable at FrankUn and other places on the 
• Alleghenv river, and that furs, peltries and maple 
sugar could be sold at those places for fair prices. This 
information was not lost on the new settlers. In the 
spring Mr. Griffith and his sons had made a quantity 
of maple sugar, and could spare about fifty pounds ot it. 
Beino- expert woodsmen they set themselves at work, 
and in a few days had a long, slim canoe added to their 
possessions. The sugar was placed in the canoe, and 
Mr Gritfith and his eldest son started for Franklm 
120 miles distant as the water runs. Fifteen days 
afterwards a canoe was seen coming up the lake, and 
soon the vovagers stepped ashore at what is now known 
as Martha's Vhieyard. They had been successful, but 
they had made a vovage which they believed could 
never be successfully repeated, they had endured hard- 
ships they never had endured before, and the thoughts 
of the needy ones in a wildernesss home, had stimu- 
lated them to feats of strength and endurance which 
they would not believe if they had not experienced 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 12? 

them. But success had crowned their efforts, they 
took away with them 50 lbs. of maple sugar and 
brought back thirteen bushels of good hard corn, more 
than enough to furnish them all with hulled corn and 
milk and cracked corn pudding until their own crops 
yielded a supply. The autumn harvest was most 
abundant. Of sound corn 220 bushels were put into 
the rick. Of potatoes they had double the quantity 
their own wants would demand. The product of the 
garden was nearly enough to supply them a year. Of 
oats in the bundle enough to keep the stock through 
the winter with a small allowance of browse. Tlieir 
rifles gave them plenty of venison, and an occasional 
roast of bear's meat. Millions of the finest ducks swam 
on the bosom of the lake, and abvmdance of fish, the 
best in the world, inhabited the deep waters below. 
Plenty of hard work, years of toil, was still before them, 
but haggard want was then and there banished from 
that home forever. When the chill November blasts 
began to blow, and the lake tossed as if by a tempest 
was covered with white caps, everything was genial 
warmth, peace and plenty, at that log house, for the 
cabin had been converted into a house during the 
warm season, tlie cattle and the sheep housed and pro- 
tected from the howling wolf, and the brave settler and 
his family, seated around the warm, blazing hearth, 
gave liearty thanks to Him from whom all blessings 
flow. 

I have given nearly a full history of Mr. Orifhth's 
moving in and of the early hardships experienced, be- 
cause he was one of the earliest comers, and settled by 
the' side of the lake, and because with slight variations 
it would be the history of hundreds of our best, most 
determined, laborious early settlers. 



128 THE EARLY HISTOliY OF 

SADDLES AND HARNESS. 

We shall glance only at the commencements of 
this industry. How many harness shops we have to- 
day in our city we are not informed, but dare assert 
that fifty years ago there were fifty saddles made 
where one is now. Nearly all the traveling was on 
horseback previous to 1835. In 1820 William Knight 
opened a shop for the manufacture of saddles and 
harness in a small shop on the east side of Main 
street between Second and Third, near the center of 
the block on the lot where Broadhead & Sons' store 
now stands which is occupied by Whitley & Son. 
The next year his brother, Day Knight, worked with 
him and in the succeeding year, 1822, a dapper, pleasant 
young man came to town as a journeyman saddler 
and was employed b}' Knight. We shall always re- 
member the advent of Silas Shearman into town, for 
about that time our mother had wound a ball out of 
good yarn with a cork in tlie center to make it 
bound, had given us a " tip " and sent us to Knight's 
to get it covered. Arrived at the shop Knight was 
out, but this nice-looking young man was there and 
very pleasantly asked what was wanted. " I wish my 
l)an covered and here is a tip to pay for it." Silas 
took the ball and sixpence, and said, "You come in 
to-morrow morning and I will have the ball ready for 
you." The next morning we were there, promptly on 
time. He handed us the finest, best-covered ball ever 
seen, and we went out in front of the shop and 
" played catch " for several minutes. Finally "Sile" 
said to me, " Do you like raisins? " to which we re- 
pHed, "Yes Sir." "Take this tip and goto Tiffany's 
and buy some raisins, and whenever you want a ball 
covered come to me." Shearman told us but a few 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 129 

days ago that lie well remembered covering the ball; 
^te always have, and never shall forget it. 

Silas Shearman is still living, smart and active, 
but no longer harnessed to the saddle-making busi- 
ness. He is now, as he always has been, one of our 
most busy active men. He has always been watch- 
ful of the interests of Jamestown. If any new scheme 
or project came up for the advancement of the town, 
Shearman was always on hand. If he thought it 
would benefit, it had his active support, if on the con- 
trary he thought it would prove injurious, it had his 
unqualified opposition. He has always been active 
politically, although he has never held, and so far as 
we are informed, never sought office. He has held 
many military commissions, from that of Captain of 
cavalry up to Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the 162d 
Reg., 4od Brigade ofN. Y. State Militia. He was what 
was termed a rah'nl Abolitionist, at a day when it was 
very unpopular to be an active opposer of slavery, and 
was a conductor on the nndergrou n<I VixWYoad. He has 
from the first been active in the temperance cause and 
to speak the plain truth his aggressive, energetic sup- 
port of what he considered right made him unpopular, 
with many, although as a citizen of Jamestown but 
few have been more respected. He was never a bigot 
■or unreasonable, always social and l)rimfull of kindly 
feeling. Shearman has lived to see slavery abolished, 
and those who opposed him, his warmest friends. As he 
looks young and is still active, we hope lie will live un- 
til the last drink of whiskey has gone down a fool's 
throat. He could then afford to lay quietly in mother 
earth up to that time which his religious views, set for 
the general awakening. 

Afterwards a buildiiiir was erected Ijelovv Elisha 



130 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Allen's tavern which occupied the southeast corner of 
Main and Third streets, where now the Gifford build- 
ing stands, and this building was on the lot where 
Marble Hall stands. The front of the lower story was 
used as a horseshed, which was afterwards enclosed 
and made into two rooms facing the street. In the 
south room, Loring .Johnson had his tailor shop, and 
in the north one James Harrison commenced his 
watch repairing business. A pair of stairs on the 
north side of the building between it and the tavern 
led into the second story which was divided into two 
fair-sized rooms. To these rooms Knight removed his 
shop and took his brother Day in as a partner. After- 
wards Shearman opened a shop of his own, and mar- 
ried Miss Marsh, a relative of Samuel Barrett, Esq. In 
1832 Alvin Plumb and N. A. Lowry built a large three- 
story brick l)uilding on the northeast corner of Main 
and Third streets. This building consisted of two 
stores fronting on Main street, with a passageway be- 
tween, leading to the offices above, very much as the 
new building now there, is arranged. Silas Shearman 
at the same time erected a two-story brick buildmg 
where Maj. H. Smith's insurance building now stands^ 
with the second story extended east over the archway 
which gave entrance to the vacant space behind the 
Plumb & Lowry stores. This two-story building was 
at the same time extended east by Wm. Hall to Pot- 
ter's alley. John P. Shearman who learned his trade 
with Silas, married Lamanda Marsh, a sister of his 
brother's wife, and in 1838 opened a shop in the 
Hawley block where the Hall block now stands. This 
block afterwards burned and William Hall erected the 
present building. During the next year J. P. Shear- 
man moved his shop into a building which stood on 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 131 

the site of the upper store in the present Prenderiyast 
block proper, not inckiding the store next to Dr. 
Ormes's. Charles Kennedy (afterwards sheriff of 
Chautauqua county) and James Dinnin, Jr., (afterwards 
major of the 9th New York cavalry) and others com- 
menced the manufacture of saddles and harness in 
Jamestown as successors to John P. Shearman. We 
will now follow the subject further. 

In the spring of 1841 the writer returned from 
New York city, a full-fledged M. D. John P. Shearman 
made him an excellent saddle and the finest pair of 
p'dl hags that ever a doctor straddled. One of the doc- 
tor's first calls was to see a child of Daniel S. Williams. 
Dan then lived in a house located near the west side 
of the Presl)yterian church. The old house has been 
moved about fifty feet further west and is now used as 
a paint shop. As we went into Williams's house we saw a 
small and not very expensive nag hitched at the door. 
The saddle attracted our attention more than the 
power; horse. We went in and visited the child 
who was not very sick. We gave no medicine 
but promised to call again in the morning, 
(quite an usual custom among physicians — two fees 
are better than one, you know.) As we left the house 
Williams wished us to look at the horse, and finally 
to take a ride. We did so and rode to Lafayette street 
where we met Henry Baker and N. A. Lowry, both 
praised the horse and desired to know the value. We 
rode back and Williams asked how we liked the animal. 
We repled, "He is an easy saddle horse. How much do 
you ask for him?" Williams replied, "I will make 
you a present of that horse if you tjiink he is good 
enough to start with." We accepted with thanks, John 
P, Shearman stepped out of Williams's house with a 



133 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

new pair of pill bags which he laid across the saddle 
and said, " Doctor, there are the saddle and pill bags 
you ordered me to make," Looking towards Main street 
we discovered our father. Major Barrett and several 
others standing near the present postoffice building en- 
joying the fun. We did not ride up Main street as we 
had intended, but turned down Cherry and made all 
haste to the barn on Mechanic's alley, between First 
and Second streets. 

Instances similar to this are not uncommon. 
There are but few who cannot look back to something 
of the kind in their first start in life. In after 
years, when the toils of life are nearly ended, when we 
look back upon the long landscape of the past, such 
occurrences appear, as it were, mountains in the back- 
ground, speaking of good will to us, wishes of God- 
speed in the long journe}^ on which we had entered, 
and we remember the actors with holy love and vener- 
ation. How pitiable it is that so many of us fail of 
any honorable distinction in making this journey, and 
as life draws to a close can say " Life has not been 
worth the living." 



CHAPTER VI, 



The Pictures of Memory — Dr. Foote's Purchase 
OF A Reserved Section. — Early Bickerings — 
Blacksmiths — The Harveys — Father Crane 
AND Others — Manufacture of Scythe Snaths 
AND Agricultural Implements — Chair Mak- 
ing — Cabinet Ware — Mill Wrights — Fan- 
ning Mills — Wagon MxVking — ^Tailors — Shoe- 
makers — The Crate Law- — ^Labor and Capital 
— Carpenters and Joiners — Coopering— Shin- 
gle-Weaving — Manufacture of Axes and 
Edge Tools — Gun Smithing^ — The Change From 
Rifles to Shot Guns. 



XI^VERY man's memory is a depository into which 
— ^no other man can look ; a depository of pleas- 
ures and pains, joys and sorrows; precious to their own- 
er because they are all his own. Whenever the mind 
becomes excited, there are memories which rise unbid- 
den, and with them come up from the heart, fears, 
hopes and affections, as peculiar as the character and 
fortunes of the individual to whom they belong-. And 
in like manner in reviewing the transactions of past 
years, especiall}^ if also engaged in writing them out, 
we find ourselves again in the company of individuals 



134 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

whom we had ceased to hold in memory. As we pon- 
der over the incidents of the past, and recall scenes 
over which the passage of a half century of time has 
drawn its dark and heavy drapery, blotting from the 
mind seemingly, all but the faintest outlines of those 
scenes, the thick drapery begins to grow thin before our 
rigid scrutiny, and Memory from her deep recesses 
brings before our startled gaze pictures of hundreds we 
knew in the long ago; faces once familiar, at one mo- 
ment wreathed with the old accustomed smiles, at the 
next covered with frowns that fifty years have not been 
able to obliterate from the tablets of the mind. As we 
ponder more deeply, hundreds of familiar voices salute 
our ears, the old peculiar laugh of each forgotten one, 
vibrates in the air, and we again take the places we 
occupied when but children in age. The graver of 
time has cut deep furrows on our faces, but the heart is 
again young as in childhood. Those faces beam upon 
us with all their tmcient kindness and cheer. The 
long journey of our life, with all of its vicissitudes and 
changes, its joys and sorrows, its pleasures and pains, 
its successes and its failures, is forgotten, and we live 
only in the long ago; the reality of the present becomes 
only a memor}', and the pictures and voices of the im- 
agination caught from Memorj^'s archives, become the 
realitv. 



The year 1822 was an unfortunate year for .lames- 
town and its inhabitants. 

At an early day .Joseph EUicott reserved certain 
sections on which were water powers; deeming it might 
be to his interest to dispose of them afterwards, perhaps 
to the numerous members of liis own family. The 
section east of the one sold to Judge Prendergast, on 



THE TOWJs' OF ELLICOTT. 135 

which was the water power at the lower village, the 
Tiffany section, the Works section, and others on the 
waters of southern Chautauqua, were among these re- 
sem-es. Judge Prendergast was negotiating with Elli- 
cott through Judge Peacock for the section between his 
purchase and the Slippery Rock (Dexter's) in order 
not only to give to the town increased water power, but 
also to permit the growth of the town in that direc'tion 
under his supervision. It had already become appa- 
rent that the laiid available for village purposes west 
of what is now called Prendergast avenue, a few rods 
east of which was his eastern boundary, was insuffi- 
cient. \Miile the negotiations were l)eing made, Dr. 
Foote quietly went to Philadelphia and bought' this 
tract east of Prendergast 's purchase of Paul Busti, who 
was higher in authority in the Holland Land pompany 
than either Ellicott or Peacock. Foote and Prender- 
gast, we may add, had become noted for their disa- 
greements. A difference of opinion and an uncon- 
querable dislike had grown up between them. Judge 
Prendergast could not extend his map of the village 
east beyond the boundary of his own purchase, and on 
this line was met by counter plans. Second street in- 
stead of continuing east in a direct line was there bent 
to the north, and between it and Fourth street the land 
was sold in a large l^lock, on wliich barns and some 
residences were built in the line of Third street. 

It was alleged l)y Foote that Prendergast would 
not sell water power and for this reason he was induced 
to purchase the reserve. The truth is that by the first 
sale of power to the cotton factory and the arrangement 
for using the balance, there was no water power for sale. 
That was one of the reasons for Judge Prendergast de- 
siring to obtain this reserved section, and he did not 



130 Tin-: KAKIA insTOKY OF 

desire to adopt the plan afterward used nt the lower 
dam, by which waste water privileoes were sold to an 
extent that all the water running" in the outU^t durino- 
the highest liood would not be sufficient to turn all \\\o 
wlieels. The sale of waste water privileges was si'lling. 
in fact, something which did not exist. Judge rnni- 
dergast did accommodate everyone with water power 
who applied, much to his own inconvenience, plainly 
telling them that all power and evi'U more was already 
disposed of, but so long as not in use, they could use it. 
Passing over the ill feeling produced at the time, the 
blocking of Third street, but a few years ago, gave rise 
to the heixH^ war waged at the opiMiiiig of Third stu'ct, 
east from this avenue, causing tiie land to be bought 
by O. E. Jones, W. D. Sliaw and others, and the street 
opened at their expense^; and afterwards the tight over 
"Sine" Jones's barn when the town wanted tlu^ street 
but did not wish to pay for it. The notch on Fourth 
street, east of Prendergast avenue, bears testimony of 
this feud of over sixty years ago, and always Avill re- 
main an everlasting monument to the parties engaged 
and a stareing disgrace to Jamestown. One of our 
prominent citizens, Sidney Jones, Esq., whose residence 
is opposite to the notch, says lie has been frequently 
asked; "What was the meaning of that notch'" — "Why 
is one portion of this otherwise beautiful avenue wide 
and the other narrow?" He says, that Avhile his face 
mantles with sliamcthe only ansAverhe can niak(^ is — 
"It is a monument." The quarrel about the location 
of the acadertiy many years ago, the singular location 
of the old jNIethodist church and tlie clause in its deed 
intended to keep it on that ground, ami very many 
more of early village bickerings in which the inhabit- 
ants warmly took sides, had their origin in that 



THE TOWN OF KLIJCOTT. 137 

transaction of 182o. Wliat was of importance to 
our fathers and to the infant village is of less con- 
sequence to their children and to the city of James- 
town, ])ut the cause of this hlemish in a beautiful 
street should be recorded. With this slight historical 
notice we will leave the subject, and put aside the old 
bone over whicli our fathers contended. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

After two-thii'ds of a century have passed nway, it is 
difficult to say of tliat necessary worker, tlie black- 
smith, who was the first to strike hot iron on an anvil; 
who made the first liorse shoe, fashioned the first crane 
for some riule sticlv (-hiniiiey, or tui'iunj and foi'nied 
tlie tJ-aiiimel which attached the kettle of the early 
housewife to tiiat crane; but we can come near enough 
to satisfy tlie most exact and particular seeker after 
facts. 

In 181,') ('apt. Forl)es l)uilt for l']-endergast a large, 
liigh, well-framed, clap-boarded blacksmith sliop'on 
the west side of the Blowers house, next to, the alley 
and over the gully of the swamp stream. Tf that shop 
was now standing it would be on the alley directly 
west of .John M. Grant & Son's store and about twelve 
feet in the air; the ground has been graded down at 
least that much. In the fall of that year Eleazer Dan- 
iels came over from Cross Roads and made mill 
irons for Prendergast in this shop and continued to 
work there until in Apiil ISIS. Daniels in the sum- 
mer of 1814 bought pi-operty on the Brokenstraw in 
the neighborhood of Youngsvillc^ and moved to his 
new home in the folloWing April. About six weeks 
after Daniels left, Patrick Campbell came to the Pap- 
ids by the procurement of Martin Prendergast of jVIay- 
ville and set up a forge in a slab shanty on the side of 



138 THE EAiiLY HLsToijy or 

the race south of the present passenger station of the 
N. Y. P. & O. railway. This was the only man so 
far as our knowledge exteiuls who in early days was 
hired to settle at the Rapids. Prendergast gave 
Campbell $75 as an inducement to come. Not long 
after James Portman came in and for a time worked 
with Campbell, making and repairing mill irons, but 
when Elisha Allen's shop on the north sid(^ of Third 
street, between Main street and Potter's alley, was 
built, lie took possession of it. 

Thomas W. Harvey, (afterwards Gen. Harvey) 
then a young man and an excellent blacksmith, came 
in the next year under engagement to set up machin- 
ery for the cotton factory — machinery which was never 
bought and consequently could not be set up. Har- 
vey married Melinda Hayward, a sister of M]'s. Solo- 
mon .Jones and Mrs. Sanuiel Garfield, in Wardsboro, 
Vt., and immediately started for Chautauqua to fulfill 
his contract. On his arrival in Jamestown he found 
an enormous building called the cotton factory, l)ut 
Avas given to understand that the building had been 
sold for debt and that there was no machinery to 
set up and never would be. He remained a 
while in Jamestown, repairing machinery for Dan- 
iel Hazeltine, and set up a forge and did some 
blacksmithing in the Allen shop, intending soon 
to return to Vermont. He was fond of hunt- 
ing and remained so long that it was too late to 
return that season, and went into winter quarters at 
Sears's (Kiantone) and there remained undecided, and 
as game was plenty, until it was too late to return the 
next fall. Finally, at the urgent solicitation of his 
brothers-in-law, Jones and Garfield, and the promise 
of much work and support from Daniel Hazeltine, 



THE TOAVK OF ELLICOTT. 139 

who wanted him to build him a carding machine im- 
mediately, he concluded to come back to Jamestown 
and build a house and shop, Judge Prendergast having 
offered him any lot lie might choose. He finally said, 
■"Friends, I liave made up my mind to remain with 
you for better or for worse ten years, but I do not 
promise a day longer." He chose the lot on the 
northwest corner of Pine and Third streets, and built a 
very good story and a-half house, but which was never 
painted. T think the ground where liis house stood 
has been cut down full twenty feet if not more. He 
built a shop on the west end of the lot on Potter's al- 
ley. 

In 1820 his brotlier, Charles R. Harvey, also a 
blacksmith, a good meclianic, a genius, and at last a 
noted inventor, came to Jamestown with his family 
and built a liouse where 8. S. Cady lately resided on 
the east side c»f Pine street, sixty or seventy feet north 
from Second street. Several years after this house was 
removed around into Spring street, just north of Mrs. Z. 
G, Keeler's residence, and is still standing although 
greatly changed in appearance. Harvey built on the 
site of the old house a large two-story house in which 
he resided several years. He removed in 1836 to 
Poughkeepsie and afterwards to New York. His resi- 
dence on Pine street became the property of Adolphus 
Fletcher, afterwards of E. A. Dickinson and later of S. 
S. Cady; the house has lately been removed. 

The Harvey s wrtrked together for several years in 
the shop built by Thomas W. Harvey. Charles R. 
Harvey afterwards built a shop .for himself on the cor- 
ner of Second and Spring streets, where Jason Palme- 
ter's house now stands. The Harveys being superior 
mechanics and men of great genius, built mucli ma- 



140 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

chinery for the factory of Hazeltiiie & Falconer, and 
for others, and for a time occupied rooms in the base- 
ment of the woolen factory for machine building. 
But Thomas W. Harvey had remained not only the 
promised ten years, but nearly another ten years up- 
on that. He had already invented two very import- 
ant machines which were in successful operation at 
Ramapo, near New York, but he had others yet more 
important, Avhich required him to spend so much time 
in New York that he finally removed to tliat city in 
1832. His brother C'liarles in ISoG followed him as 
far as Poughkeepsie, where he put in operation two or 
three valuable inventions, and a couple of years later 
to New York, where he rented a very large building 
which he filled with machinery of his own invention 
for weaving stocks for the neck, (much used fifty years 
ago,) out of pigs' bristles, and cloth out of pigs' hair. 
The writer in 1S41 was in this factory and in one room 
there were in operation forty looms on liair cloth. 
The inventions of the Harveys have added largely to 
the industries of the world. The first machinery for 
turning screws was the invention of Gen. Tliomas 
W. Harvey. The first pin with a solid head was 
turned out by a machine of his invention, and now 
there is not a pin machine in the world that the prin- 
ciple of action did not originate in his active, inven- 
tive brain. Many are the inventions now in use, 
which originated in the inventive minds of the broth- 
ers Thomas W. Harvey and Charles R. Harvey. Col. 
C. R. Harvey expended his inventive genius on ma- 
chines of present utility; Gen. Thos. W. Harvey's 
mind penetrated deeper and interested itself in sub- 
jects from which he could not expect to reap a present 
reward. 



THE TO^VX OF ELLICOTT. 141 

He sought fame more than riches. He greatly 
improved upon the methods of making steel, but an- 
other appropriated the idea lie originated, carried it to 
completion and reaped the immense reward. He was 
almost a fanatic on the subject of electricity and spent 
fortunes in making machinery and experimenting 
with it as a motive power. The writer frequently 
heard him say in 1841, when a member of his family, 
"If 3^ou live to the ordinary age of man, you will see 
electricity the great motor power of the world." Its 
present uses as a motor power and otherwise are but 
in their infancy, and yet we think exceed the Gen- 
eral's wildest dreams. He had in '41 a large building 
full of machinery, some of it costly, which he had in- 
vented and found inadequate and then cast aside, in 
prosecuting his experiments on this subject, and what 
is strange he did not strike a single principle involved 
in the electro-motor machines of to-day. 

It has been said that invention is a normal func- 
tion of the American brain. The American invents, 
as the Greek chiseled, as the Venetian painted, and 
as the Italian sings. It is only necessary to go to the 
patent office at Washington to prove that the power 
to invent is inherent in the native of New England, 
It is possible that this trait of genius may have had its 
origin to some extent in tlie wants and the conditions 
which surrounded the early settlers of New England, 
and as we have so often heard, that it is strictly true 
that ''necessity is the mother of invention." Some 
have thought that this genius to invent was spurred 
into action by the desii-e universal of gain, and the 
protection given by. the govei'iiment to the inventions 
of American genius. 

Certainly this is not the whole statement of the 



142 THE EARLY HISTOH\ OF 

case, for tlie disposition to invent was prominent and 
marked in the New Englander before the system of 
legislation was inaugurated for the protection of the 
products of his genius. If we would inquire into the 
genesis of this American trait we should first note that 
the country was mainly settled by men of that race, 
respecting which Prof Thorold Rogers has said that he 
has been unable to find any one notable invention for 
saving human labor, originating elsewhere, excepting 
the solitary instance of the carding machine, the in- 
vention of a Frenchman. And of this great inventive, 
Teutonic race, it was tlie most ingenius branch, the 
Englisl), which contributed chiefly to the settlement 
of the Atlantic coast. 

Whether it is attributal)le to lieredity, or to cli- 
mate or necessity, or to all, we will iiot undertake to 
decide, but it is certainly true that the early settlers 
of New England and their descendants are the most 
inventive people in the world. 

The Harveys during their residence in Jamestown 
were among its most useful citizens, not only on ac- 
count of the ]al)or they performed and the machinery 
they built, l)ut their prominence in all things touching 
the good and welfare of the village. They were men 
who should be gratefully remembered as long as 
Jamestown shall remember any of its founders. 

Gen. Harvey was thrice married. His first wife, 
(Melinda Hayward) the mother of all his children, w^e 
have already spoken of. His second wife we did riot 
know. His third was the widow of Alpheus Hawley, 
who was a merchant in Jamestown as long-ago as 1838. 
The last Mrs. Harvey was a victim of the railway dis- 
aster several years ago at Norwalk, Ct. The general 
died soon after. Charles R. Harvev was firet married 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 143 

in Vermont to (jlive Willard, a sister of Harmis Wil- 
lard. She died in Jamestown in 1829, loved and 
mourned by all. He afterwards married Rebecca Hay- 
ward, sister to Matilda,* the second wife of the late 
Abner Hazeltine. Both wives bore to him large fam- 
ilies of children, twelve I tliink in all. Of this nume- 
rous family but four, we are informed, are now living. 
We have not been able to obtain the dates of the death 
of Col. Harvey and of his wife Rebecca, but they died 
several years ago. We sliall speak of General and 
Colonel Harvey again when we write up the general 
muster, "general trainings" as more commonly called, 
of early times. 

LYMAX (,'KAXE. 

Lyman ( 'rane came into the southern Chautauqua 
settlements previous to the Harveys, but came to 
Jamestown in 1823 and worked with Jolm Portman in 
the Allen shop. He afterwards built a shop on the 
west end of the lot on which the hotel on Second street 
now stands, between Prendergast avenue and the 
alley. He was a good mechanic, and, what w'aa more, 
a most excellent man. Lyman Crane will be remem- 
bered as long as a Methodist cliurch exists in the city 
of Jamestown. The person never existed wdio knew 
Father Crane, who did not believe he was a C'hristian. 
His influence over the sick, especially those who did 
not belong to any church, was extraordinary. He was 
a plain spoken, uneducated man, pleasant but not 
gifted in conversation. During the earlier years of 
professional life the writer frequently came in con- 
tact with Father Crane in the sick room. If seen com- 

* These were daughters of Charles Hayward who came to 
Jamesiown from Connecticut, and were not related to the Vermont 
Uaywards. 



144 THE EAKLY IIISTOKV OF 

ing out of a house in which there was a sick person, 
that alone was jyrlina facie evidence that another jewel 
had been added to Father Crane's crown, — another 
soul safe within the Christian fold. We could relate 
numerous anecdotes illustrating tins remark. Al- 
though a man of but few and plain words, his power 
over the human mind was extraordinary and seem- 
ingly irresistible. 

Althougli we believe we have written all that can 
be said of any man as a Cliristian, nevertheless we had 
a feeling that more miglit be expected in the case of 
Father C-rane. We tlierefore consulted tho Rev John 
Peate, D. I)., who had for many years known him in- 
timately. His reply was, "You have said nothing you 
should not sa}^ of Father Crane, and surely you can- 
not say more. I think he was one of the most extra- 
ordinary men I ever knew. Although plain in person, 
slow in speech, below the medium line as a conversa- 
tionalist, he was a vast power. When living I made 
the man a study, and I have studied him since he 
went away. I am confident that his great strength 
consisted in his unbounded faith, and he conveyed his 
message to heaven in behalf of the sinner on the per- 
fect wings of that faith. He was gifted in prayer if 
not in the ordinary speech, and when his prayer was 
finished lie had the perfect assurance that God had 
heard him; and the sick for whom he was praying 
felt the same assurance. The sick man felt, as it were, 
that he had been dragged by main strength over the 
battlements of heaven, and that, too, by one authorized 
to scale their golden heights." Elijah Bishop, who 
was present, remarked; "I can in fancy see him now, 
a humble worker in iron, pounding away and with 
each blow sticking his tongue out of one corner of his 



THE TOAYN OF ELLICOTT. 145 

nioutli i]i a moi^t comical and laughable manner. His 
influence in the church and especially in the sickroom 
was never excelled if ever equalled. • It did. seem to 
me he could gain admission to the court above when 
]io other man could. I viewed him as one of God's es- 
pecial agents." Those who ever knew Lyman Crane, 
will remember him as a hard worker, genial, kind, 
pleasant, and as a Christian something different from 
what he ever knew before ; he would not dare to speak 
disrespectfully of religion in the presence of Father 
Crane, and the secret wish would always arise in the 
heart, that he was as good as Father Crane. 

The blacksmiths in the country increased fast. 
The mills of various kinds for a time multiplied with 
wonderful rapidity, wherever there was a water 
power; giving an immense amount of work to this 
class of mechanics. Safford Eddy, a son of the Rev. 
Isaac Eddy, and Samuel Garfield, a son of Deacon 
Samuel Garfield, succeeded Gen. Harve}^ in the shop 
on Third street. Col. Harvey's shop on the corner of 
Spring and Second streets changed hands frequently. 
Fatlier Crane, Marenus Hart, Obed Cliase and others 
b)^ turn occupied it. Chase afterwards built a shop on 
ground now occupied b}^ a portion of the Tew block, 
corner of Main and Second streets. Lewis Taft and 
Jason Hazzard built a stone shop on the southwest 
corner of Third and Spring streets. Joslyn Butler 
built another next the alley on tiie east end of the lot 
now on the north side of Third street between Pine 
street and the alley, and Sanford Holman another on 
the south side of Third street and on the east side of 
the alley between Cherry and Washington streets. 
Blacksmith shops have become numerous, it will not 
be profitable to follow them farther. 



146 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

In a new and wilderness country, just receiving- 
its first few inhabitants, unused and unaccustomed to 
the surroundings in wiiich tliey found themselves 
placed, among the various mechanics that l)y cliance 
stra}' ed into their midst none was so warmly welcomed 
as the l)lacksmith. He was an absolute necessity. A 
new settlement cannot prosper if the blacksmith is not 
in the wilderness with them, all others are luxuries; 
at least, settlers of a new country can get along with- 
out them. In moving in, a horse has cast a shoe, a 
tire has given out, a bolt broken; the first call is for a 
blacksmith. Unless one can be obtained they are in 

the midst of a dire calamity. After lie has arrived at 
his new home, he has immediate and most constant 
use for a blacksmith. If there is no blacksmith in the 
new settlement, the settlers are uneasy until they ob" 
tain one. We could relate several anecdotes of the 
early settlers walking through the wilderness fifteen or 
twenty miles to get a small, indisponsible job of black- 
smithing done. If, by chance, a blacksmith happened 
to come along, all sorts of promises of aid and support 
were made to induce him to remain. And if per- 
chance he should conclude to seek some other place,, 
there was mourning and trouble in that community 
until another was found to take his place. At least in 
the early settlement of southern Chautauqua the black- 
smith was found to be the most important, the most 
indispensible member of the little communities in the 
wilderness. Old Father Spencer used to say, that a 
man to make a good pioneer preacher should first 
learn blacksmithing; that that would be the best 
recommend he could carrv into the wilderness. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 147 

SCYTHE SNATHS, ETC. 

Amono" the dead industries of Jamestown is the 
manufacture of scythe snaths and grain cradles. This 
industry was introduced by Deacon Samuel Gartield, a 
man of strong and superior natural intelligence, in- 
ventive mind and was in many ways identified with 
the early welfare of Jamestown. He was born in 
Worcester, Mass., removed with his father, Eliakim 
Garfield, who was a Revolutionary soldier, in 1803 to 
Windham Count}^, Vermont. He there married a sis- 
ter of Mrs. Solomon Jones and of Mrs. Thos. W. Har- 
vey, and emigrated to ( Jhautauqna in 1814. He pur- 
chased a farm in what is now Busti, (lot 46, tp 1, r 11) 
on the top of the hill, beyond Abraham Pier's, now the 
Jenner place. He was a carpenter by trade, a farmer 
from choice, and an inventive mechanic by profession. 
He built a sliop near his house and w-orked in iron as 
well as in wood. His first mechanical work furnished 
the country with grain measures, nested from a half- 
bushel down ; rakes were a product of his Busti shop 
and soon, if a farmer needed a grain cradle or a cradle 
of any kind he could procure it at Garfield's. The 
bent snath which afterwards became so immense an 
industry in Jamestown, was a product of his inventive 
genius. He manufactured them at his little shop on 
the hill in Busti until the demand far exceeded his 
ability to produce, and he was forced to seek a 
larger field for his operations. The Stevens' tannery at 
that time was not in use, he purchased that and soon 
was engaged in manufacturing scythe snaths on an 
extended scale. The name of Stevens' tannery was 
soon forgotten, and the building was afterwards 
known as Garfield's scythe snath factory. 

Innnense quantities of these " crooked sticks " 



148 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

were liere inanufactured, supplying the whole country 
and taken to the southern markets by boatloads. At 
first scythe snaths only were manufactured; atterwards 
grain cradles also. At one time as many as three of 
these factories were running at the same time. A. B. 
Cobb & Son, who I think were the third firm to en- 
gage in this business, and who bought out Garfield, 
manufactured grain cradles and rakes extensively. 
Several of these establishments from time to time 
burned down, the old Stevens tannery among them. 
Cobb & Son were burned out twice and, I think, three 
times. Soon after Garfield had established the busi- 
ness in the Stevens building, Ezra Wood became his 
partner. Afterwards, Ed. Reynolds, then the Cobbs 
and Broadhead were prominent men in this industry. 
Afterwards Simmons & Tyrrel built a factory at the 
corner of Second and Cross streets and manufactured 
largely. This establishment also burned. Ezra and 
Nathan Breed occupied a large factory on the west 
side at the lower dam and manufactured extensively 
not only scythe snaths but also other agricultural 
implements. According to my recollection Harmis 
Willard, Wm. Broadhead and W. R. Denslow were 
moderatel}^ engaged in this business at the lower vil- 
lage as late as 1870. In 1871 it became a dead indus- 
try in Jamestown; why, we are not informed. At one 
time it was by far the most extensive in the town. At 
an early day, before the establishment of these fac- 
tories, the most of the hay rakes in use were made in 
Busti l)y Palmer Phillips, a celebrated local Methodist 
minister fifty years ago or more. He also made a few 
grain cradles. Rakes were also made by tlie Marshes 
at what was called the Marsh Settlement on the Still- 
water near A. M. Kent's farm. Samuel Garfield and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 149 

wife died several years ago. They had a huge ianiily 
of children, all I think, now dead, excepting Lydia 
whose first husband was a Dilno and who is now the 
wife of Amos Palmer; and Benjamin who now lives in 
Salamanca. Fred Garfield, om* energetic railroad man, 
is a son of Ben's. 

CHAIR MAKING. 

The chairs used in the settlement at an early day 
were of the splint bottom variety and mostly made by 
the Marshes. There were others who made a few, but 
I do not remember them. There was a man named 
Nash who lived on Oak Hill who was an adept in put- 
ting in flag seats, and I think he made a few chairs of 
this variety. Many in town employed him to renew 
their cliairs with flag seats wlien the splints were worn 
out or broken. Phineas Pal meter in the vear 1827 
commenced the chair making business here, building 
a two-story shop on the tail race of the grist mill not 
far from the east end of Broadhead ct Sons' worsted 
mills. In this factory they manufactured wood seat 
and flag seat chairs. The power for running the fac- 
tory was gained by a large, long wheel which was 
turned Ijy the mere force of the cvuTent of water in the 
race as it passed along. The next year Palmeter 
V)rouglit from Pittsburg our townsman, Robert Y. Cun- 
ningham, of whom we have already spoken, and Ben- 
jamin T. Morgan who two or three years later mar- 
ried a daughter of .James Hall, Esq., ofKiantone. Soon 
after his marriage Morgan left chair making for f\irm- 
ing. The Kiantone Morgans, Delevan, Benjamin and 
otliers were his children. Morgan died many years 
ago. I cannot say whether or no Cunningham l)ought 
out Pnhneter, but this tail race water power was found 
inadequate and Cunningham commenced llie maiui- 



150 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

facture of chairs elsewliere. He built a residence and 
shop on tlie southwest corner of Third and Cherr}^ 
streets, now occupied by Mrs. Andrew Smith as a resi- 
dence, and their continued the manufacture of chairs, 
I have flag seat chairs in my house to-day manufac- 
tured for Dr. Laban Hazeltine, by Robert Y. Cunning- 
ham fifty-five years ago. Cunningliam afterwards 
erected the building now standing, south of the Sher- 
man house and used as a boarding house, and there 
manufactured chairs. I well remember the first power 
used by Cunningham. It was a foot lathe and most 
thoroughly was his right foot educated to the busi- 
ness. Afterwards he had lathes in a room in the low- 
er part of Prendergast's saw mill. Cunningham is 
yet, I believe, connected with a chair manufactory. 
His wife, the eldest daughter of Elmer Freeman is 
still living. 

Afterwards chairs were manufactured more extens- 
ively by a man named Bell, and others, at tlie lower 
dam, and afterwards still more extensively by George 
A. and Nat. Flint and L. B. Warner, also at tlie lower 
village. Chairs by them were sent in quantities to the 
lower market. The Flints and Warner afterwards 
erected a large building below Allen street, near the 
lower pond. They may have manutactured chairs in 
it, but I think it was used for the most part for sawing 
and planing lumber. This large building and much 
property were finally destroyed by fire. We have now 
in our city an immense factory for cane seat chairs of 
all styles whicli are sold in all sections of the United 
States; also an immense factory for wood seat chairs, 
quite as extensively sold. In addition to these we have 
smaller estal)lisliments in whicli are made heavy splint 
seat chairs and rockers; and other establishments for 



THE TOVVK OF ELLICOTT. 151 

fancy seat chairs. We merely mention these ; tlie early 
industries only come within our plan. 

CABINET WABE. 

There is to-day standing on the south-west corner of 
Main and Fourth streets a small one-story house which 
for several years has been used as a millinery estab- 
lishment. This house, with its woodshed extension, 
originally reached nearly to the alley, and was built 
by Royal Keyes in 1818, and was for many years his 
residence. Keyes by trade was a carpenter and joiner, 
and came into the country from Newfane, Vt., Math 
Elisha Allen in 1815. In the fall of 1816, assisted by 
Captain Horatio Dix, he erected a two-story workshop 
south of this house. There was a space of eight feet 
between the buildings, and the front of the shop was 
about live feet farther from the street than that of the 
house. During the winter of 1817 — 18, he returned 
to \''ermont and married Amanda Kidder, sister of the 
wife of Abner Hazeltine, and then returned in the 
same sleigh to the Rapids with his wife, together with 
Samuel Barrett and iiis wife. Keyes himself was for 
several years actively engaged in housebuilding, but 
used his spare time in making cheap articles of cabinet 
furniture in the shop mentioned. Finding ready sale 
for all he could make, lie employed a traveling jour- 
neyman to work constantly at the business. During 
the winter of 181(; — 17 a school was taught in tlie sec- 
ond story of this building by Abner Hazeltine. Wil- 
liam Breed, a cabinet maker, came \o .Jamestown in 
the spring of 1820, and as Keyes was at that time en- 
gaged in erecting a mill for Nicholas DoUotf he per- 
mitted Breed to occupy his shop while absent, with 
the agreement that they should form a partnership as 
soon as Keyes completed Ids present job. The part- 



152 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

iiersllip commenced during the fall of the next year, 
1821, and a couple of months later, January 1, 1822,. 
John C. Breed, a brother of William, arrived and was 
given employment in the sliop af Keyes & Breed. 

While the types are being set for this page, Mr. 
Breed is being borne to his long home. He died on 
the (Mh day of December, 188(5, aged 82 years and 
eight months. A good man has fallen. 

John ('. Breed- was born near Schuylerville in 
Saratoga county, N. Y., in the year 1804. He was the 
sixth child of a family of twelve children. Thomas' 
Breed, liis father, afterward moved to Cayuga county. 
In 1822, two years after he came to Jamestown to reside^ 
which at that time had not outgrown its hamlet con- 
dition, there were but few families here and the whole 
country was a wilderness. There was then but one 
church organization in the town, and all of those re- 
ligiously inclined on Sunday met at the old Prender. 
gast academy for Divine worship, which usually con- 
sisted of the reading by some one of a sermon, of sing- 
ing and prayer. John C'. Breed immediately identified 
himself with this band of worshippers which consisted 
of mend)ers of all denominations of C*hristians. He 
established and was the superintendent of the first 
Sabbath school organized in Jaiuestown. He was the 
first Baptist resident of the village, and one of llie or- 
iginators and oi'ganizers of the First I'aptist cliurch 
liere in 182(5, and is the last one of its charter members. 

•lolm (". Breed has been a true and iailliful exem- 
plar of orthodox ( 'hristianity in Jamestown for a per- 
iod of 65 years. There has been neither spot nor 
blemish on his Christian character during that long 
period. He was one of that small band at which the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 153 

woi'ld points, and in-wardly confess in their liearts and 
openly with their lips- — thtxj are Chrhtuins^ 

In November, 1S27, he married Olive, the tiftli 
daughter of Solomon Jones. For over 50 years he re- 
sided in the house in which he died. John ( '. and Olive 
(Jones) Breed had four children, of whom l)ut two are 
now living- — Judson \\\, the eldest son, is a resident of 
Cincinnati; Charles A., tlie youngest son, resides in 
Jamestown. Olive, his wife and couipanion of nearly (iO 
years of earthly life, tarries. 

His fatlier Thomas settled in Saratoga county on 
the farm that was noted for the surrender of Gen. Bur- 
goyne and his army in the w'ar of the Revolution. This 
farm was situated about one mile from Schuylerville 
where he was born. His father's family numbered 
twelve children. The most of them afterw^ards settled 
in Chautauqua county. Aurelia Breed, who married 
Luther Botsford, is the only one of the family now liv- 
ing, and she came to Jamestown to attend her l)rother's 
funeral. She lives now in Salamanca with her daugh- 
tei', Mrs. Benjamin (jarfield. 

At a meeting in Jamestown a few years ago of the 
Breeds fr(jm various parts of the country, Deacon John 
C. Breed, in a very interesting address made on tliat 
occasion, closes with the following eloquent words : 

"Our ancestors landed in this country i!40 years 
ago. Eight generations of them have been born, most 
of them have passed to their long rest. They contrib- 
uted to the general good, they helped the nation to 
establish itself, as we are now helping to maintain it. 
They did their part. Are we doing ours as well? These 
are momentous questions, 'i'he gray hairs gathering 
on ni}' brow, and whitened heads of others I see here 
to-dav, together with our failing vision and failing 



154 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

strength, impressively remind us that we shall soon join 
the large circle who have passed on before. As we have 
so good evidence of the Christian character and integ- 
rity of so many of our ancestors who now sleep in the 
grave, my prayer to God is that ourselves, our children 
and our children's children may all meet with the re- 
deemed family in heaven where its collected members 
shall be scattered no more forever." 

Before proceeding farther we wish here to record 
a few more recollections of the Royal Keyes family. 
We have elsewhere recorded the return to Vermont 
of Royal Keyes and Samuel Barrett, their marriage, 
and their long sleigh ride with their wives, in return- 
ing to their home in the wilderness. Most thoroughly 
burned into our recollection, is that happy, delightful 
home of an early day, on the corner of Main and 
Fourth streets. A home of which not one of the occu- 
pants remains in Jamestown to-day ; all gone, nearly 
all " in the church yard lie," three or four, perhaps, yet 
living, but scattered in far distant localities. This is 
my recollection of that home twenty years or more 
after Royal Keyes's return from that long, dreary 
sleigh ride, as we have seen them seated together many 
an evening, Royal Keyes and his wife Amanda Kid- 
der Keyes, and their six daughters. It w^as one of the 
calling, one of the visiting places of the young people 
of Jamestown of both sexes for a number of years. 
Sometimes when we reflect upon the long ago, it seems 
almost impossible that so great a change has taken 
place. Mary was the oldest daughter. She married 
a Presbyterian clergyman named Miles, and is, I am in- 
formed, still living somewhere in the west. Melissa 
married Lysander P^arrar, the first principal of the 
Jam.edown Academv. Mr. Farrar studied law in S. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 155 

A. Brown's office. He made Rochester his home, and 
was successful in his profession. He died several years 
ago. His wife is still living. Alsey married Charles 
Kennedy, who at an early day was a saddler in .James- 
town, he was afterwards Sheriff of the county. For 
some years he has been a resident of Washington, 
wdiere himself and wife and family now reside. Phi- 
iinda married George Blanchard, and died soon after. 
Lydia married John B. Forbes, and shortly died. 
Forbes afterwards married Sarah, who is, we are in- 
formed, still living in Fredonia. 

I.ast summer a young lady called upon us and was 
introduced as Miss Farrar, a daughter of Lysander and 
Melissa Farrar. She brought me a long letter, all about 
the early days, from her mother. From this letter we 
make a few short extracts. 

"I used to love to hear my mother tell her experi- 
ences when moving into the country. She and mv 
father and Sanuiel Barrett and his wife were married 
on the same day, and expected to start the morning 
after the ceremony, Feb'y. 8th, 1818, on their wedding- 
trip to Jamestown, which was to be their future homct 
But a furious snow storm came on in the night and in 
the morning the roads were impassible. They were 
delayed several days, but finally started in two sleighs, 
one covered and containing the two brides and grooms 
and a chest in which was packed the provisions for 
then- long journey. The other sleigh was laden with 
their earthly possessions and driven by Levi Sherwin,* 
who was a carpenter and joiner by trade. The sleigli- 



* Levi Sherwln was a brother of Milton Slierwin. He built the 
large frame house on the south-west corner of Layfayette nnd Third 
stre' ' - — ' • . . . 

asro. 



Streets, which was lately removed, and died there about flfiy vears 



150 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

ing- was good, and they were about three weeks in 
making the trip. 

My father biiih liis liouse on the south-west corner 
of ^Fain street late in the fall, and could not finish it 
until next season. When my sister Mary was born 
mother said the snow sifted in between the boards and 
covered the bed on whicli slie lay. Our parents, Dr., 
must have experienced some liardships we know noth- 
ing of — they were noble men and women. We shall 
never see their like again. T am proud of my New 
England parentage." 

Mrs. Farrar gives some very interesting accounts 
of some of the first houses built in .Jamestown by her 
father, viz.: S. A. Brown's, E. T. Foote's, Sam'l. 
Barrett's, Tlios, Harvey's, and others, but is too long for 
our purpose. ■ 

She continues — "When our house was first built, 
tlie pine trees were so near it, that I used to lie awake 
in mortal tc>rror when tlie wind blew, lest they should 
be blown down on the house and crush us." 

I should have mentioned Royal Keyes as one of 
the captains of the old steamer Cbautauqua towards 
the close of her career, and believe he became tlie sole 
owner, and at one time he was Major of the l<)2d Keg. 
of N. y. S. Militia. He built the house still standing 
on the south-east corner of Fifth and Cherry St. in 
184*-), into which he removed, and there died July 1st, 
1852. Sarali and her luisband, John B. Forbes, about 
tliat time moved to Fredonia, and took their widowed 
mother with them, and the Keyes ceased to be inhab- 
itants of Jamestown. Mrs. Keyes survived lier husband 
several years. 

In 1825 the Breeds built a shop on the west side 
of Pine street between Third and Fourth, employed a 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 157 

couple of journeymen and increased the lousiness. Tlie 
front portion of the house now occupied bv Mrs. 
Elhck Jones as a boarding house was constructed out 
of the shop put up by the Breeds in 1825. The Keyes 
shop some years afterwards was occupied by a man 
named Todd, and later by others, who buiU some cab- 
inet ware and other liousehohl furniture. The upper 
room of the sliop was for two or three vears occupied 
by the Rev. Mr. Smith, a Baptist minister, for a con- 
tmuationof Abner Hazehine's Prendergast academy. 
It was afterwards occupied as a select school by a Miss 
Farnham of Ellington. In 1833 the Breeds erected a 
larger sliop on the southeast corner of Pine and Third 
streets. Almon Partridge afterwards became a partner 
and they built a factory at tlie lower dam at the east 
end of the large factory at present operated bv a son 
and grandson of William Breed. This industry, which 
commenced in the snudl way described abovJ, is now 
one of the vast industries of our city. "Pearl Citv," 
for the writer takes upon himself, he will not sav the 
honor, but the distinction of giving to Jamestown the 
name of Pearl C'ity. How many cabinet factories, table 
factories, bedstead factories, lounge factories there now 
are m our city the writer is not informed, but he does 
know that the first pine and whitevvood furniturcMuade 
m this town, the boards were planed and nailed or 
glued together by Royal Keyes, and that as a business 
to be followed William Breed planed tlie first cherry 
and black walnut boards and fashioned them into 
tables, bureaus and other ware which we call cab- 
inet. Altliough turmture in small quantities was from 
time to time manufactured by others, mostly transient 
persons, the Breeds have been the autocrats of the 
turmture business for a period extending over more 
than sixty years. 



158 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

In a country in which even at an early date there 
were so many mills and so much machinery of various 
kinds, one would naturally expect to find many edu- 
cated millwrii^dits, mechanics skilled in hydraulics and 
strength of materials. One of the earliest workers of 
this class was Phineas Palmeter, a man of great genius 
and a superior mechanic wherever placed. Neverthe- 
less, he was accustomed to say that he was not a mill- 
wright, that the business was distasteful to him, and 
he would not engage in mill building if he could avoid 
it. The earliest millwrights of the county were Gapt. 
Horatio Dix, Milton and Levi Sherwin, Capt. William 
Forbes, Royal Keyes, and a man by the name of Spaf- 
ford. Probably the first and the last named were the 
only ones who claimed to have received education m 
this employment. Tliere were others, but these were 
the leading and the best until Elijah Bishop came in 
the fall of 1829. The first work in the line of his '' pro- 
fessiorC' was to build and paint d. jmljnt and do some 
other work on the first Congregational church which 
was then nearing completion, and was finished in the 
middle of Deceml)er of that year, and dedicated .Janu- 
ary 1, 1830. 

Among the first of Mr. Bishop's work was the put- 
ting in of new water wheels and building other ma- 
chinery for Hazeltine & Falconer. The burning of 
Judge Prendergast's big cotton-factory flouring mill 
gave Mr. Bishop an opportunity for showing his un- 
usual skill as a millwright, for tlie Judge determined 
to replace the old mill, which was a good one, with as 
good a flouring mill as could be built. Mr. Bishop 
introduced in this mill superior machinery for smutting 
and cleaning the grain, and many improvements m 
the bolting apparatus. And what was of great and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 159 

permanent value, he jDut in improved water wheels, 
giving more power, together with a great saving of 
water. For many years Mr. Bishop j!?a/' excellence was 
the millwright of this section of the country. It w^as 
during the period he was actively engaged in this 
busines that the rude "water-devouring " wheels of the 
past gave place to the economical and scientific struc- 
tures of the present. In an early day economy of water 
was little thought of Under Bishop's i-eg'nne the eco- 
nomical use of power gave positive existence to a few 
of the many waste water privileges which previously 
existed only in the deeds describing them. 

Henry CVippen was for several years a millwright 
here. I do not remember whether he came before or 
after, but I think he learned what lie knew of mill 
building of Bishop. 

A ludicrous anecdote of Crippen I cannot avoid 
relating. In 3852 tlie Iniildings on the east side of 
Main between Second and Third streets burned down. 
The old Allen Tavern on the corner of Main and 
Third streets, built by C'apt. Dix and .lesse Smith in 
1815, was included in this fire which originated in 
the store of Higley & Kellogg, situated about the cen- 
ter of the block, on ground occupied by a store owned 
by William Broadliead and occupied by Whitley & 
Son. (Crippen slept with a dozen others in the ball- 
room of the tavern at the time of the fire. The other 
occupants of this Jdrt^raomhad been up and in the street 
nearly an half hour, but Crippen continued to sleep. 
Finally they commenced removing the furniture, as it 
had- become evident that it would be impossible to 
save the building. Crippen awoke in a crazed condi- 
tion, poked his head out of the window and cried 
"fire! fire! fire!" with all his might; and then, much 



160 THI'] EAKLY UlSTOUY OF 

to the danger of the many skulls congregated below, 
threw out of the window a looking glass and several 
frangible articles of furniture. Having performed this 
feat of a too quickly aroused mind, he poked his legs 
througli the arm holes of his vest instead of putting 
on his trousers, and thus equipped made his appear- 
ance ill the street below, carrying an enormous pair 
of iron firedogs. The fire was not so far advanced but 
that he was able to rescue the balance of his clothing; 
but the laugh was greater than Henry could endure, 
and soon after he went west. 

John Phetteplace, our present experienced mill 
builder, I think was a pupil of that autocrat, Bishop. 
Ben Nichols is the prince of the present millwrights, 
but we are profoundly ignorant as to his "hat meas- 
ure " and will drop the subject. 

We would further remark of Bishop that for 
many long years he has been Jamestown's "poet laur- 
eate." Who among the old citizens does not remem- 
"Florian" of fifty years ago? But one other could 
have presumed to dispute his precedence. Our late 
townsman, the amiable, gentle and good Dr. Asaph 
Rhodes, was the only poet who ever gained the repu- 
tation of being able to compose a poem, the sense and 
beauty of which would not be lost whether the read- 
ing was commenced from the middle or either end. 
Whenever a new hymn was needed in this locality 
for some special occasion, we generally find that Eli- 
jah Bishop or the gentle doctor M^as the composer. 

FANNING MILLS. 

Walter Stephens came to .Jamestown as a fanning 
iTiill maker about the year 1832. He took for a fac- 
tory a building previously used by Cyrus W. Jackson 
as a gun shop, and which was situated al)out the cen- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 161 

ter of where the Biisli block is located on the north 
side of Second street between Main and Pine. After 
pursuing this business for two or three years, he formed 
a copartnership with Alonzo Kent and went into the 
dry goods trade. Afterwards he removed to Jackson- 
ville, Fla., and erected large saw mills. He died in 
Jacksonville. Stephens married Matilda Tew, sister 
of Geo. AV. and Wm. H. Tew. Three of his children 
are living — Emily, wife of Nat. Flint who now resides 
in Fairbault, Minn.; Antionette Stephens, who resides 
here; and Edgar W. Stephens of the Columbia grain 
drill company of this city. 

Ed. Reynolds, who afterwards engaged in the 
sc3^the snath business, succeeded Stephens in the man- 
ufacture of fanning mills. Since Reynolds, we. know 
of no one engaged in the fanning mill industr}^ or any 
other wooden machinery directly for the "raising of 
the wind;" other methods are now in use. 

WACiOX AND CARRIAGE MAKING. 

Wagon making was not among the earliest indus- 
tries established in this region. The wagons employed 
in bringing the pioneer settlers into this country for 
several years supplied all the conveyance of this kind 
needed. In winter and, in truth, in other seasons of 
the year, home manufactured sleds of the rudest con- 
struction were much used. When there was no snow, 
the deep, thick mud of tliose early times was more 
easily navigated by the broad-runnnered sleds than 
by any wagon ever built. The settler would go into 
the woods and select two small saplings with a similar 
crook, and from these he cut his runners, peeled of the 
bark and, if he had a shave, flattened the bottoms so 
that they would present a broader surface to the nuid. 
An axe, a shave, an augur and a jackknife were all the 



102 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tools absolutely necessary to make for himself this 
primitive conveyance. It was the remark, of T^hineas 
Palmeter, that the settlers as a class never went into 
any new country so well prepared with mechanical 
implements as those who came to this. In nearly 
every log house might be found a small but fairly 
filled tool chest. 

What were termed "'jumpers" were very fashion- 
able in an early day— as a stylish one-horse rig in win- 
ter. The runner and the thill were made from a sin- 
gle pole; the pole was half shaved away for a couple 
of feet where the forward end of the runner was in- 
tended to be so that the longer remaining part would 
bend upward to form the thill. Into the runner por- 
tion of two poles thus prepared two or three holes were 
bored, into which were driven pins about a foot in 
length. Two or three strips with holes at the ends for 
the upper ends of the pins fastened the runners to- 
gether and made the foundation for the box, for which 
a crockery crate was the orthodox thing. A young 
man who had a good horse, a good jumper with a 
crockery crate for a box, a good buffalo robe or a couple 
of Indian blankets, witli a string of enormous bells to 
scare the wolves away, was happy — the env}^ of the 
whole neighborhood. He could give his sweetheart 
an extra fashionable ride to tlie nearest neighbor's, 
perhaps five miles away, or to the nearest log tavern to 
a New Year's dance. But the young man generally 
took his rifle with him, for there were bears as well as 
wolves in the woods, and he did not eare to meet any 
competition in the hugging business, in the deep forest 
through which he would have to pass. A very com- 
mon, all-the-year-around, go-to-mill conveyance, was 
a small crotch ed sapling. A board, perhaps a box. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 163 

was made fast to the crotch, in which the grist was 
placed. The oxen were hitched to the butt end of 
this machine, and the crotch end dragged in the mud. 
From experience we must declare that it was an easier 
thing to lide on than some of the elliptic spring bug- 
gies of present times. 

The first wagon shop in .Jamestown was erected 
by a Mr. Welch, just above Mrs. Jones's boarding house 
on Pine street, between Third and Fourth streets, in 
1824. The same building was many years ago moved 
to the side hill near the boatlanding just above Cap- 
tain Murray's residence, where it yet stands. Patrick 
Maher lived in the building several years before erect- 
ing his present residence on the corner above. Sev- 
eral persons occupied this shop, each for a short time, 
after Welch abandoned it. Bradford B. Burlin com- 
menced the wagon-making business in this shop. The 
firm of Burlin & Forbes afterw^ards removed to a large 
building which they erected on Third street. Nelson 
Woodford's " wdiite horse" blacksmith shop now occu- 
pies part of the ground once covered by this factory. 
The}^ manufactured carriages and sleighs for many 
years. Isaac Forbes finally retired from the business 
and Royal D. Warner took his place, and later John 
B. Rawson, our present Surgeon Dentist. Various per- 
sons and firms, one after another, succeeded Burlin & 
Warner in the wagon business. The building finally 
disappeared in one of our numerous fires. Dana H. 
Allen, a son of Gen. Horace Allen, and others for several 
years manufactured wagons and sleighs in buildings 
on the corner and west side of the present Institute 
street. Since that time this industry has been carried 
on at various points in our town. The business has 
from the first gradually increased in importance until 



164 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

it lias reached its present dimensions. It should be 
borne in mind that many wagon shops during this 
time have sprung up in the surrounding country. The 
most important and deserving of mention are perhaps 
those of Busti Corners, Frewsburg and Fluvanna. 

TAILORS. 

James Dinnin, an Irishman, father of the late Col. 
James Dinnin of the 9th N. Y. cavalry, and of John 
Dinnin of Boston, was the first of the clothes-making 
fraternity to settle at the Rapids. He had not been 
here long before he erected a building for a shop and 
residence on the southeast corner of Main and Fourth 
streets. Before this building was completed he married 
a daughter of Elias Tracey the celebrated old hunter, 
and a sister to the wife of Wm. H. Fenton, Esq., and soon 
after removed to Warren, Pa., and resided there several 
years, and then returned to Jamestown. Several years 
ago he removed from Jamestown to Panama and from 
there to Michigan, where lie died. Dinnin in early life 
was dissipated, but reformed and joined the Presbyte- 
rian church. He built and resided for many years in 
the house now occupied by E. H. Dan forth, on Fourth 
street, between Lafayette and the alley. 

Loriiig Johnson was the second of the craft to set- 
tle in Jamestown. He resided here for many years. 
Between 1840 and 1845 he removed to Stockton where 
he died. Johnson resided on the northwest corner of 
Third street and Prendergast avenue. He built a small 
residence on that location, and also the pen, from which 
the bear the writer did not kill, stole the pig. 

Noah W. Harrington was the third come-to-stay 
tailor, and who came to town in the year 1822. Har- 
rington was l)y nature as much a comedian as was 
ever Burton or Emmett. Before he came to James- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 165 

town he was at one time a member of a theatrical 
troupe. He trained a couple of Jamestown girls and 
twice the number of young men into tolerable actors, 
and in the winter of 1824 they gave, in the ball room 
of Ballard's tavern a most excellent theatrical exhibi- 
tion. Harrington's personification of Robin Rough- 
head in a celebrated comedy, the name of which we 
connot recall, we sliall never forget ; and there were 
those present at that early backwoods performance wlio 
had seen good acting in New York and elsewhere, who 
declared they had never seen any one do Roughhead 
better justice. In 1823 or '24 there was built on the 
w^est side of Main street, fifty feet above the corner of 
Third street, and adjoining the north side of the build- 
ing which was first known as Jones's tavern and finally 
as Shaw's hotel, a two-story frame building, With a 
wide platform in front of the second story, which was 
reached by a flight of stairs from the street. We think, 
but have no positive information, that Harrington 
erected this Ijuilding. He had not long been a resident 
of Jamestown when he chose C'apt. Horatio Dix for a 
father-in-law. Kcziah would naturall}^ desire a 
house of her own, and Capt. Dix being an indulgent 
father and a good builder would naturally suggest to 
Noah the ])uilding of the ArJi', as it was called in those 
days. About the year 1828 Ira Couch came to town, 
and for a time was in comjjany with Harrington. He 
Avas a resident of the town several years, and at the 
close opened a shop on the east side of Main street, in 
a building still standing, the third above Fenner's shoe 
store. This house in 1821, and for several years after- 
wards, was occupied by Joseph Waite, Esq., as a resi- 
dence and law office ; tluni by Couch as a residence 
and shop or store. Still later it was purcliased by Dr. 



166 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Asapli Rhodes, who occupied it as a residence and an 
office. First and last the building has had many occu- 
pants and is now divided up among several tenant;^. 
It is one of the landmarks of the early days which 
would beneiit our most prominent street were it oblit- 
erated. Couch, after his removal to this location, pur- 
chased a quantity of cloths and ready-made clothing, 
and was the first to advertise as a " merchant tailor." 
He not long after failed and left Jamestown and went 
to Chicago, which just then was looming into import- 
ance, and where within the next ten yeers he made a 
large fortune. He became one of the richest among 
Chicago's monied men. He built, owned and managed 
the Tremont house and another large hotel, and built 
a block of stores and several residences. 

Belvin B. Mason, father of Levant L. Mason, 
eomes next on our list of garment makers. Where he 
first commenced business we do not clearly recollect. 
He at one time lived in a house on the southwest cor- 
ner of Pine and Fourth streets, known as the Pearl 
Johnson house. AVe distinctly remember that he re- 
sided here when Levant left home to learn the jeweler's 
trade in Rochester. He may have had a shop in the 
long building tlien extending west from the house to 
the alley. Afterwards he had a shop in the second 
storv of the 'oriek block burned a few years ago, and 
owned by William Hall and others, situated t»n the 
north side of Third street, between Main street and 
Potter's alley. After Mason came Henry Herrick, who 
advertised to cut pants for 13 cents, coats at 25 cents 
and overcoats at 30 cents, and to make up the gar- 
ments in the l)est style possible, at the same propor- 
tionate rates. There were several others who might 
be mentioned, Imt the above are the principal ones. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 167 

and as we have followed the business down to a period 
when just and honest profits apparently had to give 
way to ruinous competition, and, judging from the ad- 
vertisements in the newspapers of to-day, the ruinous 
competition still continues, we will give the tailors a 
rest. 

SHOEMAKERS AND COBBLERS. 

In the settlement of a wilderness country where 
at least one-half were cobblers, and made, after a fash- 
ion, their own foot gear, it is quite impossible, after 
sixty years and more liave passed away, to state who 
was the first builder of boots and shoes, witliout some 
special circumstance transpired to fix it in the mind. 
We well rememl)er that the early tanners had a room 
for shoe making, and employed one or more men to 
make boots and siioes. Abram Frank, the Busti tan- 
ner, was the great boot maker of the country at an early 
day and employed several workmen. That Barrett 
& Barker employed at least two we can give positive 
testimony. Barrett and lUirker's shoemakers had 
bought two bushels of chestnuts from an Indian, and 
had spread them out on a side of sole leather on some 
loose boards above their work room to dry. Ira Rus- 
sell and Niles Budlong, two l)oys twehe oi' fourteen 
years of age, found the chestnuts and, liclieving they 
were for any one to eat who desired, filled thci]' pock- 
ets and went away. 'JMiey stated to their fathers that 
they carried away thei]- pockets full two or three times 
— which probably was th(? truth, ftu- .sevei-al young 
men also found the chestnuts, and testified that they 
thought they carried away as many as two or three 
bushels. The shoemakers finally missed theii- chest- 
nuts and learning that Ira and Niles had taken some 
of them, coaxed them ijito the shop and administered 



1C8 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

" strap oil " in dangerous doses. The boys were laid 
up a week or more because of the fearful flogging tliey 
had received. The affair caused considerable excite- 
ment and Budlong was about arresting tlie men when 
Niles requested him not to do so. "Gust" and "Dasc" 
Allen, Mart Forbes and Uncle Ben (Benjamin Run- 
yan) had a confidential talk with Niles, and Budlong 
suspecting the boys were going to settle it in tlieir own 
way let the matter drop. A few days afterwards early 
in the evening Runyan was seen sitting with the shoe- 
makers on the edge of the platfoini which ran along 
the south side of Tiffany's store. A signal was given 
and almost instantly all the boys in town were in the 
street with Carpenter at the head. Two stout crates 
which were kept back of Tiffany's store and used to 
crate drunken men through the streets, and to the 
bridge, where they were hung off' the side until morn- 
ing, when the occupants were found quite sober and 
ready to go home to breakfast, were quickly on hand. 
They were placed by the side of the platform and as 
qmckly there was a shoemaker in each and tied fast 
to it by strong ropes, and the crates started down ]\Iain 
street for tlie bridge, the shoemakers swearing fear- 
fullv. In case of a drunken man, undergoing tlie 
crate, it was a rule tliat if he used any profane lan- 
guage, any boy having an "elder squirt" (and on these 
occasions every boy had one) might squirt pure cold 
water from Tiffany's spring into his face until tlie pro- 
fanitv ceased. Tlie elder squirts were immediately 
brought into requisition. The shoemakers begged; 
promised to swear no more, and the irrigation ceased. 
They were soon hanging over the side of the bridge. 
Some friends soon i-el eased them; they started imme- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 169 

diately for Warren — went down tlie river on a raft — 
and never returned. 

The practice of crating drunken^'men in James- 
town began about the year 1822 and was continued 
for several years. With wdiom it originated we can- 
not say, although a shrewd guess might be given — 
surely not with the boys, aUhough they were the exe- 
cutioners. We do not wish to imphcate Silas Tiffany 
or any other prominent citizen of the olden time, in 
originating the '■'■crate law" therefore will pass it over. 
The squirting of water into the face soon sobered the 
victim of the crate law. A drunken man was not tied 
fast to the crate; the hinged cover was closed and the 
crate made fast midway between the floor of the bridge 
and the swift water below. Frequently sawyers in the 
mill, who, as would be said now. were in ^'cahoot" with 
the boys, or other friends would draw up the crates 
and release the occupants, but it was seldom that a 
person once in got out until perfectly sober. With 
few exceptions it was seldom that a man was found 
in condition to undergo the crate after the second 
time, for the most part once sufficed. The method 
was cheap and effectual. If help was necessary Car- 
penter was generally at hand to aid the boys. We 
sliall always remember his once presenting liimself to- 
undergo the punishment himself. He repaired to Tif- 
fany's corner and gave the usual signal, and tlie boys 
were soon there. He said he was "half seas over," 
"three sheets in the wind," "water-logged," inclined 
to "go with the wind," "too lul)berly sea sick to trim 
ship" and would soon be on his "beam end" if the 
boys did not give him a lift; wanted to be put into 
the crate, have water s<piirted over his heated " figger- 
head," and put over the side of the bridge to dry. 



170 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

He was i^artially accommodated; we put him in 
the crate and wet him down with water from Tiffany's 
spring; — the crate was then placed on two handsleds 
and Guinea was escorted home by all the boys in town. 
On reaching his domicile he was perfectly sober, and 
before enterino- the house made a speech to the boys 
(he was a fluent speaker) which was greeted with 
cheers and the boys went home. 

About 1825 Deacon James Carey and Deacon 
Loring Shearman opened a shop in what had been 
Titus Jvellogg's residence on the north side of Second 
street between Pine and Spring streets where is now a 
long l)rick building, which as strange as it may ap- 
pear, was erected by Kellogg, and intended for five 
fancy dry good stores of the village of Jamestown, 
Six steps in front led to the store rooms. They were 
never occupied for that purpose. Soon afterwards 
AVm, M, Eddy and Joseph Merrills opened a shop in 
the second story of Higley et Kellogg's store, before 
mentioned. Long before this time Hiram W. Curtis 
was making shoes in the building erected by James 
Dinnin for a tailor's shop, previously mentioned. In 
1827 W. W. Arnold, Lewis Hazzard and Joseph Mer- 
rills Iniilt a small shop calculated to accommodate four 
workmen, just east of where Gron's livery stable now 
stands on Second street. In the year 1831 Ezra Wood 
came to town, entered into partnership with H. W. 
Curtis, and put a stock of Boston made boots and shoes 
into a l)uilding on the southwest corner of Third street 
and ]^leciuinic's alley. Tliis was the first regular boot 
and shoe store established in Jamestown, This build- 
ing became quite prominent in the business affairs of 
the village and will be s])oken of more fully hereafter. 
In early days we had a sufficient supply of small 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 171 

shoe shops to supply the local demand. Now we have 
immense hve-storied factories, employing hundreds of 
shoemakers and sending their products far and near 
through the United States. Then we went direct to 
the shoemaker for our shoes, now the only shoes he 
could sell us, possihly, are the ones on his feet. Then 
the shoemaker made shoes; now it takes a dozen shoe- 
makers to make one shoe. Then the shoemaker with 
his hammer struck heavy blows on the soles of his 
shoes forming them to his last, now he strikes heavy 
blows, wliich trouble the soul of the manufacturer, 
when he reflects how rich he has become, and how 
much poorer are the shoemakers who do his work, than 
were the shoemakers of sixty years ago, when each 
worked for himself in a little shop of his own. Then 
boys were sent to the shoemaker for "strap oil;" now 
the poor shoemaker is more frequently "strapped" 
than th(^ l)oys. Then every man who was considered 
worthy to live was a laborer, and every one who 
worked had plenty to eat, for the laborer was consid- 
eved worthy of his hire. Now we have Knights of La- 
bor. "Knights" originated in the Dark Ages, and 
with them came the Crusades. Darkness again broods 
over the nations. Now is the Night time of Labor. 
The sepulchre of independent lal)or needs rescuing 
from the barbarous control of the Saracen monoi)oly 
of the manufacturer. This monopoly has crushed the 
business of the shoemaker, chea})ened the price of 
shoes, and compelled the laborer to work for him at 
unrenuinerative prices, whilst he, the manufacturer, 
lays up his thousands yearly. Wealth and monopoly 
forbid the shoemake]- to live by the sweat of his brow. 
He may not breathe the pure air of heaven; the im- 
pure air of colossal manufactories is good enough for 



172 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

]nm and his children. He may not eat the rich fruits 
of God's earth; pulse, lentels and husks are good 
enough for him. Darkness broods! Shall chaos come 
again? 

If labor joins hands with anarchy the worst is to 
be feared; but if labor joins hands with capital, on 
the reasonable basis of live and let live, then the fu- 
ture will be brighter than the past. Tlie two cannot 
be divorced without destruction to both, 

CARPENTERS AND .JOINERS. 

Sixtv years ago and more, when every board used in 
building was planed by hand, seemingly every person 
who had the muscle to drive a plane was a carpenter. 
Thev were only machines; what they accomplished is 
now done by mill work. The early builders in James- 
town were Milton and Levi Sherwin,( 'apt. Horatio Dix, 
Plinny Cass, Ezra Marvin, Abraham Staples and per- 
haps a few others. The first structures erected for res- 
idences were not large but respectable. The farm 
houses and barns nearly all of them were built with 
loo's; but five log tenements were ever erected at the 
rapids and they were cabins, not houses. The first 
mills and factories were large, well-built structures put 
up by educated workmen. As timber and boards were 
cheap, the early houses in town were generall}^ made 
of superior material although plain in appearance. 
The scarcity and great cost of nails and hardware was 
among the greatest drawbacks to building. Many a 
good house we remember in which the floors were 
fastened with wooden pins instead of nails. * Nearly 
all the glass was of the 7x9 variety. When 10x12 and 
somewhat larger glass came in, some would not use it 



* This was th- case in the house in which we spent our child- 
liood's days. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 173 

for fear their neighbors would think they were becom- 
ing proud. Our early blacksmiths made some hinges 
and door latches, but a majority of those were the 
handiwork of the carpenter. We well remember a set 
of wooden door hangings for a nice door in a nice 
house, that then we thought were the finest, most art- 
istic of any in town, and have not lived long enough 
to change our mind. Hickory and ash made the best 
of door latches and catches. 

Who has not read of tlie" latch string hanging 
out?" If the string was pulled in,the house was locked. 
We have knocked at many a door when a boy, 
and heard the loud salutation from within " walk " or 
" come in," both meaning the same. " Walk " meant 
walk in, not to walk away. Then a good pull at the 
latch string and a pusli on the door and you were in; 
no one to salute you, all sitting or attending to their 
business. " How d'du? draw up a cheer and sit. How 
are you getting on to yure house? right smart I sup- 
pose. When you start hum want yo tote a hunk of 
nice venison hum for your folks? ' ' Bill ' this morn- 
ing knocked over a big buck up on the wheat patch. 
Confound the deer, they will ruin us yet. They're 
worsen the wolves. There was near onto an acre and 
a half of that foller and we got it in airly and all in 
first rate style with best Mohawk seed brot in by old 
Jo Loucks, but the deer have eten it nigh all up. 
Well, ' Bill' must try and take pay outen their hides. 
But Freeman and Pier don't 'low to a white man 
near as much for a good pelt as they gives to the 
pesky, dirty Injuns. I'me near mind to go back to 
old Harkimer, and let the new country die out." The 
above is part of a composition written in 1828, and 
as transpiring in 1825. 



174 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

In early times the fashionable color for a house 
was that of the original wood ; the more stylish houses^ 
however, received a coat of Venetian red mixed up in 
sour milk. We remember two painted white, but the 
owners were considered extravagant and as setting a 
bad example. Henry Baker used to say that the first 
keg of pure white lead ever used in town was put 
on his house on the north side of Third street between 
Washington and Lafayette streets, which was built in 
1'827. 

There has been as great a change with the carpen- 
ters as with the shoemakers. Fifty years ago, if a man 
was going to build a house, the first thing to do was to 
draw upon the ground a number of large timbers. 
There the carpenter had to lay out the frame, cutting a 
tenon here, and digging out a mortice there, in one place 
for a post and in another for a joist. In those days it took 
a learned man, at least in old Pike's or DaboU's Arith- 
metic to be a carpenter. When all framed, the sticks 
were put in their proper places and pinned together in 
what were called bents; then all the neighbors for 
miles round were invited to the raising. A " raising 
bee " was somewhat similar to a logging bee, leaving 
out the eatables. We have none of these pleasant 
social raisings now, where some giant of the neighbor- 
hood could show off how much he could lift, and an- 
other how readily he could handle a pikepole ; and 
where the important boss, standing in some conspicu- 
ous place, swung his arms in a circle, squatting low 
and then quickly regaining the perpendicular, and 
crying with all of his might, "he ho, he, up she goes." 
The children do not build as the fathers built. It now re- 
quires but two men to put up the frame of a large house. 
Then it was the labor of months to put up an ordinary 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. I75 

house; every board used had to be plaued and sawed 
and fitted by the joiners. Now nearly all is done at 
the mills, tliere are no heavy timber frames, and all 
the carpenter has to do is to put the various parts in 
then- proper places. 

COOPERING. 

Coopering was one of the industries of earl v times 
Many who had settled as farmers were mechanics, and 
especially coopers, and employed their spare time in 
making pails, wash tubs, etc., which they would sell to 
their less mechanical neighbors or Itarter at the stores 
tor tea, tobacco, cotton cloth, or other necessaries 
Jesse Carrier was the first to set up coopering as a 
business in Jamestown. His house was on the 
north side of first street about equi distant between 
C lierry and Washington streets. The street that once 
existed m that locality was destroved bv the excava- 
vation for the railway. He built a shopVacing Cherrv 
street on the northeast corner of the lot now occupied 
by tlie W. D. 8haw residence. The demand for such 
ware was not great, and Carrier eked out a livino- by 
building skifis for use on the lake. "^ ' 

Shingle weaving was a common industrvamono- 
the early inhabitants of Ellicott, not only among the 
farmers but among the towns people. The timber cost 
only the sawing into bolts and hauling to the chanty 
If a person had nothing else to do he would sliave 
shingles. Shingles, next to Spanish coin, was the best 
article any one could have with which to buy the nec- 
essaries of life. Ill those days we had poor people, but 
no paupers. If one would eat he must work, and it 
was a poor specimen of humanity that could not sbave 
a shingle. If there happened to be any lazy fellow in 
the settlement not willing to support himself, be was 



176 THE EARLY HISTOUY OF 

sure to be hired in the spring to go down the river on 
a raft, and nine times out of ten he never returned. A 
walk through the wilderness from Pittsburg or Cnrcni- 
nati would be more than such a person could endure. 
Southern Indiana sixtv years ago must have had all 
the inhabitants of this class they could possibly desn-e. 
In early times a bunch of shingles was legal ten- 
der at any store, shop, or place of business in James- 
town. It was formerl V told of A. F. Allen and D. Allen 
when heavily engaged in lumbering and also selhng 
goods in .Jamestown, an old customer who had always 
paid in shingles made large purchases at their store and 
offered cash in payment which the Aliens refused, say- 
ino-, " We do not want your money, are you not gonig to 
let'us have your shingles r " Well, I don't know," was 
the replv. " Let old Guy (Guy Garl Irvine) have all 
we had at the shantv yesterday. He gives us ten cents 
a bunch more than you ottered, delivered at Buck- 
tooth." A F. Allen spent the whole day with that man 
and finally had a written contract for his shingles for 
three vears, the first $300 worth of goods bought by bun 
to be paid at the end of three years in shnigles, the 
second $300 worth in two years in shingles, the balance 
of account at the end of three years, to be on the usual 
one-year time with interest, payable in shingles, and 
he to let the Aliens have all the shingles he made, the 
Aliens to pay ten cents a thousand more than Irvine 
would pav, and also pay the hauling from the shanty 
to Bucktooth ; cash to be paid for one-half of the shin- 
gles each year in June. "By Goll, ' Dasc,' we will let 
old Carl know that he don't own the Allegheny river 
yet." " Mind your oar, 'Gust,' and keep the current. 
Old Jake will make nigli on to two miUions this year, 
and thev are the best hauled out on the Cincinnati 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 177 

beach, and will fetch fifty cents a bunch more than any 
other. I can sell all you buy and not half try. I guess 
I will write down to York and have Connover & 
LeBaugh send us an extra thousand dollars' worth of 
Orleans sugar and molasses, and three or four more 
hogsheads of codfish, and get 'em through before the 
canal closes ; and I will have Levi Cook send up 150 
worth more of those beads for the squaws to put on 
moccasins, for Old Jake will put a draw^ shave into the 
hands of every Indian between Cold Spring and Tun- 
amagwont." 

AXES AND EDGED TOOLS. 

Excepting the axes and edged tools which the set- 
tlers brought into the country with them — and that 
supply we have always understood was bountiful — 
all were made in the country. It was seldom that the 
piojieer brought with him into the wilderness less than 
two good axes and many of them half a dozen and 
even more. Broad axes and shingle shaves were also 
brought in liberal supply, but of the latter, it was soon 
learned that those made here, for the service required, 
were superior to those they had brought from Ver- 
mont and elsewdiere. The Harveys especially, made 
very superior edged tools, and those who desired some- 
thing extra were willing to pay their extra prices. They 
declared that facilities not within the reach of a wild- 
erness blacksmith, were required to make the manu- 
facture of axes and broad axes, a remunerative employ- 
ment at })rices at which the article should be pro- 
duced. Father Crane devoted much of his time to 
the making of axes and other edged tools. Pearl 
Johnson, who came into the village somewhere be- 
tw-een 1826 and 1S28, devoted his entire attention to 
the manufacture of edged tools of all kinds. Butcher, 



178 THE EARLY HI.STORY OF 

carving and chopping knives he kept constantly in 
stock of sizes and shapes to suit all, but shingle shaves 
were the articles produced by him in largest quanti- 
ties. No shingle weaver would be long without one 
of Pearl Johnson's shaves if he could procure one. He 
advertised his shaves as the "best the world produced." 
"All those who want shaves of a 'superior article' will 
take care that P. J., is stamped on them, as no others 
are of my make." The first establishment for the ex- 
clusive manufacture of axes, I think, M'as at the head 
of the lake near Barnhart's by a man named Barnes,, 
Edmun.d Edgerton, a workman of Barnes', and Lyman 
Crane afterwards built an axe and edged tool manu- 
factory at Dexterville, East Jamestown. They not only 
supplied this country with axes, but southern ^and 
western wood choppers soon learned their superiority^ 
and they were taken down the river in great quanti- 
ties. Axe making still continues to be one of the 
prominent industries of Jamestowai. 

GI'N SMITHIXG. 

The making and repairing of guns was a flourish- 
ing industry in Jamestown sixty years ago. When 
Jamestown was but a small village there were two 
prosperous gun shops at tlie same time. Both estab- 
lishments commenced business on Second street. That 
of Cyrus W. Jackson was across the alley west of 
Crane's shop and on the east end of Jason Palmeter's 
lot; that of Owen Van Dyke on the opposite side of 
the street and a few feet farther east. Jackson's estab- 
lishment w^as the most extensive of the two, employ- 
ing at one time four journeymen gun makers and two 
apprentices, Van Dyke having but two men besides 
himself. The last made but one quality of gun; they 
differed in size and appearance, but the price was the- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 179 

same; with him |22 w-as the invariable price for a 
VanDyke rifle. These establishments for a few years 
did an immense business, not only in making new 
guns, but in changing old ones. At that time, first, 
pill percussion, but soon after cap percussion for prim- 
ing became known. There was but one percussion 
gun in the town at that time and that was of the pill 
percussion variety and belonged to the writer and 
was well known in early days in Jamestown as "Old 
Kill Deer" — a name taken I believe fi'om Cooper's 
Last of the Mohicans. Tlie country was yet a wilder- 
ness and nearly every man in it, whatever might be 
his business otherw^ise, was more or less a hunter. 

In nearly every house was a "stack" of old fashioned 
jiint.locl' guns. Besides rifles there were a large num- 
ber of United States muskets and old Queen Ann arms 
as they were called. The most of them were with 
broken locks, and all of them useless. The tirst great 
work was to convert the flint lock rifles into percus- 
sion guns and by the time this w^as accomplished, the 
owner generally imagined he wanted a new gun. 
The gunsmith in changiiuj the lock would find other 
thirigs ineeded, and after making a hill of several 
dollars for repairs would find a flaio or ivi.jjeifection 
somewhere^ and of course a neiv gun was ordered 
For the new gun from $25 to |40 was paid according 
to the number of j^ieces of silver {pewter) with wdiich 
the stock of the gun w'as ornamented. Frequently the 
old gun on which had just been paid |10 or $12 in 
repairs was sold for $5 in part payment for the new 
gun, and this with a couple of days' labor was trans- 
mogrified into a new gun as valuable as the one for 
which it was exchanged. Up to the advent of the 
gunmakers a person would be laughed at if seen car- 



180 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ryiiig a musket, especially if it was loaded with any- 
thing less dangerous than a ball or slugs. The woods 
abounded in partridges, squirrels, quail and other 
game, but no one was expected to shoot at anything 
smaller than a deer, a bear, or a M'olf. After all the 
flint-lock rifles were converted into percussion guns 
and hundreds of new rifles sold, a new dodge M^as re- 
sorted to, and that was to supercede the rifles by shot 
guns. Jackson brought with him specimens of shot 
guns and old muskets done over into shotguns, and 
would go out and bring in great strings of partridges 
and squirrels. They w^ere smaller animals to be sure 
but much more palatable than the coarse bear's meat 
and the too frequently poor venison on which we had 
been feeding. The woods were chock full of this deli- 
cate food, but we must have shotguns, JacJa^on used to 
say, if we would enjoy it; rifle balls left nothing but a 
mangled mass, unfit for food. Straightway all the old 
Queen Anns, and United States muskets were convert- 
ed into shotguns, and the younger hunters were 
prouder of their fowling pieces than ever were the 
older ones of their rifles. As near as I can recollect 
these palmy days for gunsmiths ended about 1835. 
For many years afterwards there was no regular gun- 
smith in Jamestown. 

This business has completely changed. Beyond re- 
pairing, few guns, perhaps not more tlian half a dozen, 
are now made in Jamestowm in a year, and these are 
costly affairs not intended for hunting but for target 
shooting. The game once so plenty has nearly all 
disappeared. 

I relate the following — wdiicli probably illustrates 
the "fool hardiness" of the boys of Jamestown in early 
times, quite as much as their steadiness of nerves and 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 181 

their skill with the rifle. With all skill and steadi- 
ness of nerves had they not been "foolhardy" the story 
could not now be related. Hiram Eddy, now the Rev. 
Dr. Eddy of Connecticut, and the writer at an early 
day were noted as "g'ood shots" with the ritie. Many 
years ago on Main street a short distance south of the 
cemetery was a deep gulf in which was a watering 
trough. Since that time the gulf has been nearly or 
quite filled and the watering trough, we believe, re- 
moved. Eddy and the writer had been out hunting 
wuth indifferent luck, in fact killed nothing, although 
Eddy had shot at a calf not ten yards distant without 
disturbing it. The shot was made under tlie outrag- 
eous banter of his friend, the writer, that he was no 
marksman, etc. The writer owned both of the guns 
and loaded them both. Eddy finally took up the 
writer's gun as if to shoot. "No, no. Use your own 
gun." He exchanged guns and fired. The calf stood 
unmoved. He turned towards me and leaning on the 
muzzle of the gun, said, "I was positive there was no 
ball in this gun when you would not permit me to use 
the other. I wovild not have aimed at that calf for fifty 
times his value if I bad believed tbere was." We 
were on our way home and came to the watei'ing 
trough. I picked up a small chip and gave it to Ed- 
dy and said, "You go up the hill and hold this at 
arm's length in your fingers and I will go up tlie other 
side and see how near I can put a ball through the 
center of it." He took the chip and started and tlie 
writer went in the contrary direction. It was eight or 
ten rods across the gulf. I drew up and fired. The 
ball pierced the chip to the outside of the center. 
Edd}^ remarked that he could beat that. I said to him 
that we could tell better after he had shot. He repeat- 



182 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ed that he could, but lie wanted to shoot " Old Kill 
Deer;' that he would not risk the other gun. His ball 
was nearly as far inside of the center as mine was on 
the outside. We fired several shots in this way. Sev- 
eral years ago the writer related this story to E. C. 
Bailey, Esq., of our city, a son-in-law of Dr. Eddy. In 
reply he said, "I do not quite doubt your word, but 
nevertheless will write to Father Eddy and get his re- 
membrance of the affair." 

In early times there was quite as much shooting at 
a mark, target shooting as it is now called, as there is 
in these da^^s. but of a very different cliaracter. Now 
guns of great accuracy, supplied witli all the machin- 
ery for raising or deprei?sing the sight, telescopes, etc., 
are used, and the distances between the marksmen and 
the tarket are almost fabulous. Then the longest dis- 
tance did not exceed 20 rods; 15 rods was a great dis- 
tance at which to fire at a deer, and in truth the dis- 
tance seldom exceeded 8 or 10 rods. A hunter would 
not fire at a bear unless within 5 or rods, and the 
most of mark shooting was 5 rods or less, and alwaj's at 
arms length. 

In early times it was considered necessary to de- 
stroy the game as fast as possible, it was so destructive 
to the crops, and a person was considered almost a 
philanthropist who would go out and kill two or tliree 
dozen squirrels, whicli were left where they were killed. 
The writer has many a night, for an hour or so, 
watched a small wheat field now within the city 
bounds, on what was called the old fair ground, to pre- 
vent the deer feeding upon it. Now but a few wild 
animals and birds remain and we have stringent laws 
for their protection. The time once was when quail 
were abundant and the wood pigeons plenty from early 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 183 

in the spring until late in the fall. Now there is not 
a quail in the countr}^ and the pigeon is seldom seen. 

MACHINE SHOPS. 

The first machine shop, so called, was probably 
the one started in the basement of Daniel Hazeltine's 
factor}^ by the Harveys as before mentioned. In a 
country in which were so many mills, shops of this 
kind were absolutety necessary. Capt. Phineas Pal- 
meter from the earliest settlement of the country was 
more or less engaged in the building and repairing of 
machiner}^ in Jamestown as long as lie lived, and his 
son and grandson have continued the business up to 
the present time. Many places in town have been 
occupied by machinists ; even if we can remember 
where, it would not be profitable to point out the loca- 
tions. Jason Hazzard, C. W. Jackson and others were 
among the earlier machinists after the Harveys. Over 
50 years ago Daniel S. Williams came to Jamestown 
and erected the first foundry on the southeast corner 
of Washington and Fourth streets, in the swamp as it 
then was. iVfterwards the foundry was removed to tlie 
east side of the alley into the buildings erected by 
Williams & Barrett, and which are still in use. They 
manufactured stoves extensively and added lathes for 
machine work. Two young men, Josephus Clark and 
Josiah Lincoln, went into the establishment as ap- 
prentices, and learned the Ijusiness from the foundation 
up. They afterwards bought out the old firm and the 
establishment was known as Clark & Lincoln. Li a 
year or so Lincoln sold out to liis partner and went 
west. Josephus Clark has remained in it up to the 
present day, and from a poor boy has " tiKomfactai'ed'''' 
himself into one of Jamestown's solid men. A few 
vears hiter another foundrv was started not far tVom 



184: THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Parks & Go's shoe factory, by Steele and others. This 
establishment was afterwards removed to the south side 
of the outlet to c^round now occupied by a flouring mill 
on the east side of Main street near the bridge. The 
firm at one time was Steele, Tew & Sprague, and the 
establishment the most extensive that has ever been 
in Jamestown. James Sprague, a superior mechanic, 
died several years ago, and since his death there have 
been many changes in the firm, ending in the extinc- 
tion of the establishment. The Ben. Nichols' establish- 
ment on the south side of the race I believe is the 
legitimate continuation of it and one of the important 
machine shops in Jamestown at the present time. 

Possibly there may be some important industry of 
an early day that we have unintentionally passed over, 
but we believe we have mentioned the most important 
ones. It now occurs to our mind that at one time 
many knot bowls were manufactured here. We pre- 
sume the knots were used up long ago, for we have 
neither seen or lieard of a knot bowl in years. For 
two or three years we believe, hand sleds were manu- 
factured in large numbers for the foreign market, but 
was discontinued several years ago. Jamestown is now a 
manufacturing city, and we number our numufactures 
by the hun di'eds. They may be interested in our account 
of the smaller institutions of Jamestown when it was a 
small village, and when everything manufactured be- 
yond the wants of the people was Ciirried ^' (hncn the 
river on a raft.'''' 



CHAPTER VII. 

Early Manufactures at the lower dam — Changes 
IN THE Ownership of the Sash Factory— Bio- 
GRAPPiiGAL Mention of the men — The Pail Fac- 
tory — Taking Goods to Market — Anecdotes 

A Trip Down the Allegheny and Ohio Forty- 
Three Yea Its Ago — The Sale of Jamestown 
Products on the Ohio River. 

When we were engaged in writing our series of 
articles on the early history of Ellicott for the James- 
town Journal, Mr. Nathan Brown at our solicitation 
wrote a number of papers, giving the history of some 
of the industries at the lower dam, especially of the 
old sash factory and the pail factory, with which at an 
early day he was connected. And also a history of 
the sale of these articles from flat boats, to the various 
towns along the Ohio river. Mr. Brown has now been 
engaged in Ihis t]-ade, to whieh he has added furniture 
and agricultui-al implements for a period of forty-four 
years and no man is better qualified to write up this 
history than he. The following chapter is made up 
from tlie papei's prepared by him for our series pub- 
lished in the Journal. Some portions exceedingly in- 
teresting, but not essential to the history of Elhcott we 
have been compelJed to omit. 



186 THE EARLY TIISTOKY OF 

The first sasb I'actoiy in Jamestown and in the 
county, was built by Sedgwick Benham and Smith 
Seymour in 1820 and located at the lower dam, at 
what is commonly known as Piousville; and, as the 
greater part of the year was spent in building the fac- 
tory and preparing the machinery, they did not com- 
mence business until the next year. In 1827 Smith 
Seymour sold his interest to a Mr. Goodwin, who only 
remained a year, selling to Wm. R. Rogers, and under 
the name of Benham & Rogers, they increased the 
business, and, there being no outlet for their goods ex- 
cept the river, they commenced building boats and 
running the goods south. Mr. John Scott, their fore- 
man, managed the river business and the running of 
the boats. During the year 1829 they manufactured a 
surplus stock and built a large boat, and in the fall 
Mr. Scott coasted down the Allegheny, Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi rivers to New Orleans. As this long trip was 
never repeated we concluded it was not renunierative. 
In the spring of 1881 JoIju Scott bought an interest; 
the new firm being Benham, Rogers ct Scott, under 
which name they continued the business, still market- 
ing their goods south. In 18o() Benham retired, the 
firm becoming Rogers ct Scott until Rogers sold his in- 
terest to Levi Barrows; Scott & Barrows contiiiuing 
to sell their surplus stock south. At an early day 
there existed a prejudice against machine or "Yankee- 
made goods;" goods were consequently left on com- 
mission and credit and a ruinous system of making- 
sales inaugurated. 

In 1852 Nathan Brown, who was dealing in agri- 
cultural implements on the river proposed to buy their 
goods, take the bills and stock left on comnussion, 
and to buv and sell their goods in his own wav. This 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 187 

arrangement was entered into, and continued down to 
lS7o, ho selling in tlie aggregate $75,000 worth of the 
^oods from this shop, and, at the same time, nearly 
the same amount from the sash factories of Wm. H 
Robertson, located at the foot of jNIain street, and of 
L. F. Merriam at Workslnn-g. Afterwards not being 
able to obtain goods enough in Jamestown to fill the 
large orders from the soutli, he was obliged to pj-ocure 
a large quantity of sash at Warren. 

It was about 1845 that the manufacture of doors 
and blinds commenced, that of window sash alone be- 
ing carried on previously. In 1856 John Scott sold 
his interest to his partner, Levi Barrows, who carried 
on the business alone until 1860, when his sons be- 
came his partners under the name of Barrows & Sons. 
From this time on there have been many changes in 
this firm and many different owners and partners. 
John T. Wilson is the present proprietor who, with im- 
proved machinery and better facilities for manufac- 
turing, continues the business on tlie same site on 
which the sash factory was located over sixty years 
since. 

Mr. Benham came to Jamestown from Penii Yan, 
Yates county, X. Y. Aftc>r JNIr. Benham sold Ins prop- 
erty the family returned to tlie east. 

Smith Seymour was born in C 'amillus, N. Y., Dec. 
17, 1803. He married Chloe Foote, sister of Dr. E. T. 
Foote, by whom he liad four children, two of whom 
died in cliildhood; Emeline S. married A. J. Weeks 
and resides in this city, and Burritt G.. lives in New 
York. His second wife was Lucy, widow of Henry 
Barj'ett. Seymour died several years ago. 

Wm. R. Rogers married Sophronia Benham and 
their famih^ consisted of seven children, five sons and 



188 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

two daughters; two of the sons, Dorrance and William,, 
died victims of the war of the Rebellion, Lewellyn 
and the two sisters Lucy and Harriet reside in War- 
ren; Lewellyn married Louisa, the eldest daughter of 
Judge S. P. Johnson and Martha (Hazeltine) Johnson 
and resides in Warren, Pa. Lucy becoming the wife- 
of Judge Wm. Brown of Warren, and Harriet the wife 
of Mr. James of Warren. Wm. R. Rogers was one of 
the original members of the Presbyterian church and 
was an elder until his death. He was also superinten- 
dent of the Sunday school for many years and was an 
active church worker. 

John Scott came to Jamestown in 1828. He mar- 
ried Elmina, youngest daughter of Rev. Isaac Eddy.. 
Thev had six children, three of wliom died in infancy; 
their son Robert was drowned April 12, 1868 on board 
the steamer Seabird, which was wrecked in Lake Mich- 
igan. James B. enlisted in the 0th N. Y. cavalry, Septem- 
ber '61, and died January 18, '63, a martyr to freedom 
and his country's cause. John W. is a physician in 
Jamestown. John Scott was one of the original mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church, and an elder from 
the beginning until his death in 1873. 

I^evi Barrows was born in Luzerne, Warren 
county, N. Y., March 26, 1804. He was married July 
6, 1828, to Abigail P. Ransom who died in September 
1846. His second wife was Sally E. Canfield whom 
he married in 1847. She now resides in Jamestown.. 
Mr. Barrows came to Jamestown in 1831. He was; 
the father of twelve children, nine l)y the first wife, and 
three by the second, of wliom four are now residents 
of Jamestown. Levi Barrows died in 1863. 

Parley Smith, of Syracuse, a relative of Nathan 
Brown, came to Jamestown in 1830, and purchased a 



TPIE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 189 

large building which had been erected at the lower dam 
for a pail factory by Roweand Dewey, who bought and 
tested to their sorrow the Miner patent for cutting pails 
in nests out of the whole log, each pail being but one 
piece, lacking the bottom. The patent was a failure. 
Smith induced his brother Levi and George Steele 
of Frankfort, N. Y., to become his partners. The firm 
was Parley Smith & Co. Nathan Brown came to 
•Jamestown at that time in their employ. Two years 
later they sold the concern to Merrifield and Allen ; 
and a short time after Allen disposed of his interest to 
Wm. M. Eddy. They had bad luck in boating their 
goods to market, but received good prices for the pails. 
They had Jake Rice for a pilot, but he was too heavily 
loaded with whiskey to take the proper care of the load 
committed to his charge. 

In the fall of 1833 Ezra AVood bought the estab- 
lishment, manufactured a boatload of pails, and Joel 
Partridge run them to market. Partridge sold for good 
prices and received a large sum of money which he 
carried in rolls in his pocket. He was followed by two 
suspicious looking men, all stopping at the Stone 
House, forty miles out from Pittsburg. All were obliged 
to sleep in the same room, and m the night the writer 
heard the men planning to rob Mr. Partridge ; his 
wakefulness prevented the success of the plan. 

In 1S34 Joel Partridge became Mr. Wood's part- 
ner. About a year later one of the hands working in 
he early morning snuffed his candle and dropped the 
Vjurning wick into the shavings, PIo kicked the chips 
over it and supposed he had smothered it, but it ignited 
the light material and burned the entire factory and 
warehouse and surplus stock, inflicting a severe finan- 
cial loss. Almost before the emljers had become cold 



190 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the proprietors commenced drawing lumber for a new- 
building. Elijah Bishop put in the machinery and a 
12-foot breast wheel, which the writer very distinctly 
remembers. In a remarkably short time the new fac- 
tory was built and again turning out its pails and tubs 
by the thousands. (3ne cold morning we found the 
wheel frozen fast. We took a lantern and axe, and 
going into the wheel, commenced cutting on one side,, 
when the wheel suddenly started, throwang us and the 
axe backward and extinguishing the light. The first 
thought was that one of the hands had come in and 
hoisted the gate, and set the writer hunting for his 
prayers, apprehending that there might soon be one 
less of the Brown family ; but it was only the weight 
of the ice which had accumulated on one side of the 
wheel that had caused the start, and it soon stopped. 
Brown groped for the manhole, not waiting for any 
further ceremony about getting out. The lirst work 
of that morning was to send one of the boys up to 
Tew's luTrdware store to procure a lock, chain and sta- 
ple, and he never again went into the wheel without 
having the gate locked and the key in his pocket, to 
avoid a repetition of what might have been a serious 
accident. 

The firm carried on the business extensively, from 
40,000 to 50,000 pieces of ware being manufactured a 
year, and employed a large number of hands. Girls 
were employed to do the painting. At that time it 
was the fashion for women to wear low necked dresses. 
The prepared paint was kept on a high shelf ready to 
be used when needed, and one of the girls, when reach- 
ing up to get a dish of blue paint, accidentally spilled 
the contents in the s^ltore side of her dress. She ran 
like a blue streak over the brido-e toward her boarding 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 191 

place, leaving a blue trail as she went. She did not return 
until the next day, when she remarked that she " had 
heard of the blue laws of Connecticut, and of the blue 
Yankees, but had never expected to become a blue- 
breasted Yankee herself." In writing "about the sash 
factory we abstained from anecdotes, knowing all the 
proprietors to be staid Presbyterians, from the dawn of 
its existence down to the close of its administration 
under Deacon Barrows ; l)ut, as the pail factory was a 
Congregational institution, we have taken the liberty 
to indulge in a few remembrances of that character. 

In 18o9 Nathan Brown became one of the partners 
for a short time ; but he soon sold his interest back to 
them, preferring continuing as the foreman. In 1843 
he purchased of Wttod et Partridge a boat loaded with 
a miscellaneous stock, consisting of buckets, tubs, agri- 
cultural implements, etc., and soon after the company 
dissolved partnership, Mr, Wood engaging in the man- 
ufacture of agricultural implements, and Mr. Partridge 
in other business. Kibling ct Peasley rented the fac- 
tory for a short time, and it finally culminated in the 
pail factory at Dexterville under the name of Salisbury, 
Kibling & Peasly, which proved a financial failure, 
many of their friends losing heavily. The original 
pail factory was torn down, and not a vestige of the 
island or anything connected with the manufactory 
remains. Where, for so many years was heard the 
clatter and buzz of machinery and the hum of indus- 
try, naught now remains but the open, flowing outlet. 

William Eddy was a son of the Rev. Isaac Eddy, 
the first pastor of the Congregational church. He 
married Sophronia Willard, a sister of Harmis Willard. 
Howard Eddy, who was for several years engaged in 



192 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the manufacture of carriages here, was liis soji. Mr. 
Eddy died several years ago. 

Ezra Wood was a native of Westminster, Mass. 
He came to Jamestown in 1831 and estabHshed a shoe- 
store in company with H. W. Curtis ; in 1832 he mar- 
ried Mary Williams in Westminster, Mass. In 1833 he 
built a house where now the Prendergast residence 
stands, cutting down a forest of second-growth pine 
trees ; and on the north side of the house, where Mr. 
Newland now lives, was a hill as high as the second 
story windows. Where now is Fourth street was a nar- 
row, uneven pathway through the woods to the Baptist 
church. They had one son, George, who died in Olii- 
cago in 1870. Mr. Wood was an active member of the 
Congregational cliurch and an active man of business, 
until his death in 1884. 

Joel Partridge came to Jamestown from Worces- 
ter, Mass. His first wife was Azubah Goodell, by 
whom he had six children, two of whom are now liv- 
ing — James N. Partridge, and Eleanor A., wife of 
Samuel Kidder, both oftliis city. His second wife was 
Mary R. Pennock, by wliom he had six children, three 
of whom are now living — Dr. Joel Partridge of Kala- 
mazoo, Mich.; Mary E., wife of 1). D. Frank, and 
Frank E. Partridge, both of this city. 

I ran my first boat down the river in the spring 
of 1843 and was obliged to take what was then deemed 
a bad claim — a crude, unfinished boat and cargo. It 
seemed to be that or nothing, and it consisted in part 
of 10,000 feet of maple veneering, 50,000 pine laths, 
also a lot of pails, tubs and scythe snaths. In the 
bargain one of the firm agreed to run the boat to 
Franklin. The steward and cook was Chilian ( '. Wash- 
burn, who for many years had l)een an operative in 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 193 

Hazeltine's factory. Such biscuit and cornbread! and 
he knew just how to fry ham and eggs; in short what 
he did not know about cooking one needn't try to 
learn. For a cabin passenger I liad the good-natured, 
fun-loving printer, J. Warren Fletcher; one couldn't 
be lonely with him for company. Having taken on 
board a quantity of household goods, he remarked 
that it was quite too bad he did not know we were so 
comforeable or he should have made it a wedding 
trip as well as one for pleasure. Everything went 
clear and smooth as a wedding bell. AVhen we got 
stuck, wliich was quite often, we would partially un- 
load, and with the help of skids and spikes would 
soon be afloat again. The cabin passengers seemed to 
vie with each other to see which could do the most ef- 
fective work. Wo ran from Wilson's, just above Le- 
vant, down to Myers', which place we left at 10 a. m., 
reaching Pine Grove in the evening, and the next 
morning went over the rapids in good shape, reach- 
ing Warren without accident. The steward gathered 
in his stores, the cables were taken in and at noon we 
were gliding down the Allegheny, but at rather a slow 
pace, the river being low and the wind up. We made 
Tidioute at dusk, a run of nineteen miles; early next 
morning we passed Tidioute islands, and soon were in 
sight of White Oak islands and chute, deemed by 
pilots the most difhcult place to navigate on the river 
Our pilot did not do very judicious work. He ran too 
far to tlie left and stuck on a flat rock, the stern 
flanked to the right and stopped. We made up our 
minds that we had some hard work ahead, and took 
in the surroundings, concluding to remove the 50,000 
laths out of the bow and down the river some five rods 
to a point where we could carry them on again and. 



194 THE EARLY IIISTOUY OF 

in addition, had to move some of the pails and tubs 
before we could start the boat. We engaged a pilot 
who lived near, soon had it afloat and our stock on 
board, our cabin passengers doing much to establish 
their credit as being ready to lend a helping hand when- 
ever needed. The new pilot suddenly remembered 
that he had corn to plant and that he would have to 
quit, so the piloting fell upon me from Tidioute down. 
We passed Franklin bridge just at dark, the moon not 
yet up and, running farther, when we tried to land on 
the left we ran into an old tree top, then pulling out 
and trying the right bank with no better success we 
concluded to pound ahead all night. We could 
thread the channel nicely after the moon came up 
until about 2 a. m., when a dense fog settled down up- 
on us and we could not tell in which direction we were 
running or where tlie shore was, and soon ran onto 
the head of an island where we lay until morning, when 
we found that we were on Mahoning island, and had 
another duplicate in the form of unloading. Mr. Orr, 
sheriff of Armstrong county, who owned the island, 
kindly brought over a number of his hands and for a 
small compensation helped us off. The cargo was 
soon in and we ran to Kittanning where the steward 
took on a fresh supply of stores including a large 
quantity of eggs at three cents a dozen. From there 
we ran to Freeport, tarrying but a short time, and the 
next point was Pittsburg which we reached in due sea- 
son and our cabin passengers returned home. 

At Pittsburg we found Levi Barrows, who had 
preceded us down the river with a boat-load of sash, 
about ready to start down the Ohio. He very kindly 
suggested that we should couple boats and run to- 
gether, a proposition which we with no reluctance ac- 



THE T0^\IS■ OF ELLICOIT. 195 

cepted, as he knew the Ohio and we did not. Schuy- 
ler Robertson was liis pilot and Charles Parker mate, 
while I retained my own mate Lovell Hastings. We 
ran down to East Liverpool where Capt. Barrows had a 
good trade and I put otf' a part of my dead weight in 
the form of laths. From there we ran to Wellsville 
where we spent the Sabbath and were ready for busi- 
ness early Monday morning. I here put off "20,000 
more lath and a few snaths, tubs and pails. 

Vie were soon at Steubenville where I put off" the 
balance of the laths, and was glad to see the last bun- 
dle go, as I had been familiar with it quite too long. 
I also sold a few snaths and pails, and canvassed the 
cabinet shops to exchange a lot of the veneering for 
furniture, as with the laths out, we had plenty of room 
for handling it. Deacon Barrows at the same time 
sold some sash, but put more out to liis commission 
merchants which he continued to do all the way 
down. We stopped at Wheeling and then at Mound- 
ville, 12 miles below, where is an Indian mound, the 
largest in the United States, being seventy-five feet 
high, eleven rods long at the base, and seventy-five 
feet across the top. The owner, Mr. Tomlinson, made 
an excavation from one side into the center and arched 
it over inside, putting up an immense double door, 
and charged an admission fee of 25 cents. He then 
dug from the top down to the base where the sliaft was 
on a level with the outside, and put up a winding 
staircase, building on top of the mound tliree plat- 
forms of graduated size, one above the other, continu- 
ing the winding staircase up through the center to the 
top. Each visitor was furnished with a candle and a 
match to light at the base of the shaft where was sit- 
uated the museum, in which were two complete skele- 



196 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tons, one eight feet high, having on a necklace consist- 
ing of 1,500 pieces of mica the size of a dime. The 
smaller skeleton had a necklace of 600 beads, the 
same shape only thicker, probably made either of deer 
antlers or bone. I have a few of each of these beads. 
There was also a small Indian god of polished black 
stone. It was in a sitting postnre, was about ten 
inches high with three rows of hieroglyphics on the 
back. In this I was much interested. It was stolen 
the next year, and, alt! lough the state offered a large 
reward, it has never been recovered. The archway 
gradually rotted away after the death of Mr. Tomlin- 
son, and a part of the earth fell in, carrying the stair- 
case with it; but recently the mound has been pur- 
chased by an enterprising man who has built a fence 
around it twelve feet high with a view to making his 
investment pay. Just below, near the mouth of Big 
Grave creek, is evidently an Indian burying ground, 
for as the bank washes away the bones protrude, and 
many a relic in the form of arrowhead and battle axe 
have I in my possession that I found there. 

We landed at Captine, Sunfish, Marietta and 
Farkersburg; a mile and a half below the latter place 
is Blennerhassett island where we took the skiff and 
went ashore. The outlines of the residence were still 
apparent situated on the upper end of the island which 
is high, very beautiful and is never inundated. Par- 
tially around the front the foundation was built of 
brick which had been "packed" on horseback across 
the mountains from Philadelphia early in this cen- 
tury. I brought away two of the bricks which I still 
have. The celebrated well is eighty feet deep, five 
feet across, the wall of cut rock laid up in eight seg- 
ments. The water is drawn up in a large bucket by a 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 197 

windlass. I took a refreshing draught, and have stop- 
ped tliere many times since to enjoy a cooling drink 
from tlie old Blennerhassett well. 

On Belpre plains at C'edarville, directly opposite 
the above interesting island is an ancient cemetery 
formerly used b}^ the pioneer. In one corner of it, fac- 
ing the river, were five graves of a mother and child- 
ren vvIjo were murdered by the Indians near the close 
of the last century. A cedar headboard marked the 
spot, giving an account of the murder and the ages of 
the children; the letters being painted black, were pro- 
tected from the weather by the paint, while the plank 
had worn wath the corrosion of time, leaving the let- 
ters slightly projecting. Until recently it has been 
standing, but now nothing remains of it, as the bank 
has gradually washed away and carried the graves and 
monuments with it. 

I next stopped at Point Pleasant which at an 
early day was an Indian settlement, but tlie savages 
were driven away by the English who took possession 
of the place. Near there occurred one of the hardest 
battles ever fought with Indians, lasting from early 
dawn till sunset, when the savages were Hanked and 
had to retreat. The intrepid Col. Lewis was killed 
here, and was buried on the shore wdiere the Big Kan- 
awha intersects the Oliio. He had rested undisturbed 
until the centennial anniversary of the battle when his 
remains were taken up with appj'opriato ceremonies to 
be placed in a monument. For a century he had 
sluudjered on with no requiem but the ripple of the 
beautiful Obio and tlie Kanawha, and notliing to mark 
his resting place but the tall sycamore tree beside 
which he was buried. 



198 thp: early history of 

The next stopping place was Pomeroy, a town ex- 
tending several miles along the river and as tar back 
as you can see. Fifteen miles below Gallipolis was a 
colony of Germans. Capt. Barrows sold them a lot of 
sash and I all the furniture I had in stock, besides a 
few pails. 

At Portsmouth I sold all of my snaths and a part 
of the pails; I sold the last at Mancheste]-, 

At New Richmond a man offered me twenty-five 
dollars for the boat, which had been invoiced at $50 ; 
but after advising with Deacon Barrows I accepted his 
offer, transferring the remainder of my stock to his boat, 
and bade farewell to the old boat on which I had done 
so much hard work coming down the Allegheny. I 
am sure the man got cheated, and have felt a little 
guilty ever since. It was sixty feet long, built mostly 
of hemlock, sided with no view to breaking joints, a 
ridgepole in the middle made of two basswood poles 
with the bark peeled off, studs on eacii of the girts, 
which were eight feet apart, a two-ply roof put on with 
carlings, the floor of horse boards. Just at the right of 
the stud that held up the ridge pole was a board clbim- 
ney — box of earth with a few bricks for a firepl>Jjc^i and 
a lug pole across, on which to swing our kettle. The 
above is a sketch of the boat on which the writer spent 
three months, but did not get enough out of the ven- 
ture into $200 to pay the claim. At (Jincinnati, after 
completing the sale of the goods, I took the first boat 
back to Pittsburg, first coach to Erie and stage to 
•Jamestown, where I landed July o, and thus ended a 
voyage which occurred forty-three years ago, and was 
not altogether void of interest as being the germ of a 
business extending through as many years, and find- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 199 

iiig a market for a vast amount of Jamestown's pro- 
ducts. 

In the spring of 1844 I came to the conclusion 
that with a good boat and judiciously assorted cargo, 
the river business might be made to pay, and decided 
to continue the occupation. I procured material of 
good quality to put up an eighty-foot boat, and com- 
menced work on the first of April. With several hands 
I soon had the bottom on the pail factory stocks, 
planked, caulked, and turned in. I took on board the 
lumber with which to finish, and the oars ready to run 
the boat myself to Wilson's landing, as Jacob Rice, 
Guinea ( 'arpenter and the other good pilots were away. 
This was always the time that the boys most enjoyed, 
when as many as the bottom would conveniently carry 
were allowed to take passage as far as Tiffany's. ' From 
there they would walk home. At Wilson's with plenty 
of help, we soon had the best finished boat ever built 
in Jamestown up to that time. There was a threc-plv 
roof, two ridge poles, a cal)in in the stern with cook 
stove, bedsteads, chairs, and all else needed for our 
comfort. For cargo I put in an assortment of agricul- 
tural implements, tubs, buckets and a lot of half-busliel 
measures, besides seventy-five dozens of cast steel lioes, 
crowding the 1:)oat full and investing about two 
thousand dollars in it. With two good hands I started 
from Myers's the 15th of April, doing my own piloting 
and safely passing the Conewango rapids to Warrei?, 
Tidioute, White Oak, Mahoning and other bad places 
to Pittsburg. I stopped at all the towns on tlie Ohio 
river above C;incinnati, selling goods at satisfactory 
prices, showing the people that all Yankees were not 
necessarily dishonest. We were absent three months, 
and at Cincinnati sold the ])oat for two hundred dol- 



200 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

lars to Capt. Cowing formerly of Dexterville, behaving 
an order to procure a good boat for a friend down tbe 
river. In tbe venture I cleared seven bundred dollars, 
returning bonie in better spirits tban on my return tbe 
previous year. 

The next year I built a third boat and ran it down 
to Fentonville below State Line bridge, in order to go 
below all tbe low bridges and at tbe same time get an 
early start during tbe spring freshets ; having my lad- 
ing, which consisted in part of snaths, rakes, cradles, 
tubs and buckets, drawn from this village and put into 
the boat there. In the meantime Joseph Waite, Esq., 
wdio owned a hay farm on tbe Stillwater, got S. B. Winsor 
to build two boat bottoms at Myers's, which he ran to 
State Line to iinish and load. He completed the boats 
and then put in twenty-five tons of pressed bay with- 
out first caulking the gunwale seams, although I ad- 
vised him several times, offering to assist him. His 
reply was that he had run bis hay boat the previous 
year without caulking, and that he would again. Tbe 
water falling, the boat careened over and sank, the 
water running in and ruining bis hay. He said he did 
not care so much for the hay, as he had any quantity 
of that, but that he bad been to much expense to have 
it pressed and hauled. With his team be drew out tbe 
buniUes, raised, caulked and reloaded the boat. I bad 
previously tokl him tliat his boat was too high to pass 
under the bridges, which he would not believe, but 
after we had both run our l)oats to Pine Grove, he fin- 
ally concluded to follow my advice by taking a board 
the height of his boat and going on a raft through to 
Warren, measuring the heiglith of the bridges as he 
passed under. He found that the boat was entirely too 
high, and employed all the men be could procure who 



THE TOUN OF ELLICOTT. 201 

could wield a hand saw, to assist him in loweriii^£>- the 
boat three feet, that he might be able to clear the 
bridges. He landed at Warren just above my boat at 
dusk, and proposed that we should couple together and 
he with his crew board on my boat, as he had made no 
provision for a cabin. I made ready to couple, and 
Hans Waite with B. B. Mason went on shore to take 
the line to a post lower down, while the writer climbed 
to the roof of the hay boat to help drop it down. 
Through their inexperience they failed to get a turn 
on the post, and away went the hay boat with only one 
oar shipped and a big river to contend with. I hastily 
shipped an oar wliicli ordinarily takes two men to lift, 
and in the dark landed just above Mead's island, on 
the left, having then to walk about four miles through 
the mud, brush and pitchy darkness up to Warren, 
which place I reached after ten o'clock, and not in a 
very good humor. I was met by the old judge with 
the inquiry as to how the hay market was in Pitts- 
burg. Upon which his son Hans gravely told his 
fatlier that it was tlie last time he should ever show 
tlie light of liis countenance on a hay boat. I tinally 
agreed to help them through to Pittsburg by allowing 
tliem to couple their boat to mine. The judge sold his 
boat to good advantage, returned his borrowed money, 
paid his expenses l)y the way, and started for home, 
l)ut fully determined never again to try hay boating. 
I painted my boat a light chrome yellow above 
the gunwale plank, trimmed with white ; the gunwale 
and plank were rvd. We had five windows on a side, 
with' the name I had selected, ''Yankee Notion " 
painted black in block letters between the windows, 
wliich were twenty inches deep, making the letter the 
same length ; which toeing on a light background, read 



302 THE EARLY nifSTOUY OF 

well ill the distance. In the above you have a sketch 
of my boats as they appeared from 1845 to 1861, when 
the rebels came down on nie and the name, as they 
could not tolerate the " Yankee," and threatened to 
burn the boats if the name was not changed, I ran it 
through that year without clianging, notwithstanding 
the threatening looks, but the next year adopted the 
name " N. Brown," abandoning the venerated name 
under which I had run scores of boats, which were 
scattered all the way down the lower Ohio, Mississippi 
and the intersecting bayous. They had become ex- 
ceedingly popular with store boatmen in the south. 

They felt if they had a boat with " Yankee Notion" 
on the side, endorsed " N. Brown, Jamestown, N. Y.," 
with stencil plate on the front end of the boat under 
the roof, (which they always looked for in buying a 
boat) they had a craft that would stand all the waves 
old Boreas could scare up along the Mississippi, having 
been truly tested in passing over the C^onewango dams; 
word often being sent to that effect and orders for our 
boats. 

Before the war, about all the business along the 
shores was done by what were then called storeboats. 
Ours were just right and adapted to that kind of busi- 
ness. Merchants would come up to Louisville and 
Cincinnati, buy the craft, fit it with shelving, counters, 
and all other appurtenances, investing from ten to 
fifteen thousand dollars in assorted goods. We regret to 
say that after our boats were sold a few o"" 'hem may 
have taken some barrels of whiskey on board. At the 
plantations they were obliged to get a permit from 
the owner or overseer to sell goods to their darkies, but 
some would not allow them to sell their slaves whis- 
key; others would not give the privilege Saturday 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 203 

night; alleging that if drunk all day -Sunday they 
would not be worth much on Monday. The boat was 
always anchored out at the stern so that the darkies 
could only go aboard at the bow, and care was taken 
that only a few should go on at a time; when they 
would part with all the money they had, and all the 
cotton and sugar they 'could steal. Some storeboat 
men would anchor, out from the shore, using a skiff 
to bring customers on board, as the merchants had the 
opinion that few of them could be trusted. As these 
storeboat men bought cheap goods and sold them at 
fabulous prices it is no wonder that they got rich. 

I once ran down to Louisville and landed just be- 
low some coal boats, where the owner of the boats had 
several slaves shoveling coal. One of them did not 
work fast enough to satisfy his owner who cursed him 
furiously, and then picking up a heavy strap or tug, 
beat him over the head unmercifully. The slave ex- 
claimed, "You have beaten me for the last time," and 
preferring drowning to his severe treatment, jumped 
into tlie river where it was fifteen feet deep. He sunk, 
and then rose near the end of the boat, where the 
slave holder caught him by the wool and with the help 
of the other slaves, pulled him out, when he applied 
the strap with more severity than at first. One negro 
on each side then took him up to Walker's slave pen 
where lie was told that he would be sold immediately 
and would be sent farther south as soon as able. 

It did not take me long to sell my boat, as three 
customers wanted it. I put it up at auction, starting 
at three hundred and running it up to four hundred 
and fifty dollars. I took the Pittsburgh packet Farmer 
and ran through to Cincinnati, reaching there the 5th 
of July. On board were a number of emigrant deck 



204 THE EARLY HISTOllY OF 

passengers who were just recovering from tlie cholera 
and were put off here. As the boat had to lay by till 
evening I strolled about the city, In passing through 
the deserted streets nearly all the vehicles I saw mov- 
ing were hearses, as the cholera was raging and one 
hundred and fifty dead were reported that. day. Leav- 
ing Cincinnati that evening I was much interested in 
a fellow passenger, a Mr. Lavaty of Allegheny City,, 
with whom I became acquainted. Above Pomeroy I 
noticed his not being present at the breakfjist table. I 
sent the clerk to inquire and found that he was in the 
last stages of cholera. He gave his personal effect's to 
the clerk to be forwarded to his friends, and died be- 
low Marietta. He was rolled up in the sheets in 
wdiich he died, placed in a rough box, and in the 
evening the steamer landed on an island just below 
Newport, (Jhio, where a grave was hastily dug, Tind by 
the weird light of the torches he was buried by the ne- 
gro deck hands, a feeling of gloom and sadness over- 
spreading the entire boat. I reached rittsburg with- 
out further incident, and Jamestown with thankful- 
ness that I could once more breathe the pure Chautau- 
qua air. 

REMINISCENCE OF FOURTH STREET. 

In writing up the streets the historian has omitted 
our beautiful roadway, which in 1834 was almost path- 
less from Main over to Second street. Dr. Foote, the 
proprietor of the east end of the village, objected to a 
road being cut through, on the plea that,, in part, it 
would spoil his farm ; and in order, as lie thought, ta 
block the game, he, "Snie Jones like," moved a house 
across the track just in front of where the Central school 
building now^ stands, causing quite a sensation in our 
quiet village. It stood there a week or ten days,. during 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 305 

which time it was an object of much interest, many- 
parties visiting it, not with a view of renting, but to 
examine its stability. Finally, on Saturday night 
there was a furious cyclone, not unlike but perhaps 
not quite so intense as the one which struck the land 
office in Mayville in 1836. However, the house went 
■down under the pressure of a score or more of stalwart 
arms, a shower of axes, hand saws, crowbars, etc., and 
it fell with a crash, the participants not tarrying long, 
thinking that some one watching might put in an ap- 
pearance and perhaps scold a little. I went up the 
next day to view the remains. The demolition was 
complete ; not a timber lay upon another. A second 
building could not be moved there on Sunday. Early 
Monday morning the commissioners were on hand, and 
as a result we have our beautiful Fourth, not quite as 
wide through what was once the old Doctor's land as 
it should be, but the gem street of the city notwith- 
standing. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Hotel Precedes Civilization — The Early Ho- 
tels IN Jamestown- — The Fenton or Disher 
House — An Early View From the Verandah 
— Brown's Factory Race Forgery — Ballard's 
Tavern — Elisha Allen's Tavern and the Blind 
Horse Ball- — Elisha Allen and His Clerk — 
Allen Rents His Tavern to Solomon Jones and 
Moves Into the Cass House — Laying Out the 
Justice — A Noted Deer Lick — Hall Buys the 
Kidder Frame, Fikishes It and Makes the 
Jones' Tavern, Afterwards Known as Shaw's 
Hotel — Fires on Main Street — Allen House 
— Stabbing of Nat SisriTH— Bales Fat Pine— Van 
Velsor's Triangle — Ellick Jones — Rufus Pier 
— Willard Rice — Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Kent — 
Distilleries. 

May it not be truly said that the appearance of the 
hotel in a country marks its first step forward in civ- 
ilization, enlightenment and education; its commence- 
ment in arts and sciences, its first introduction to litera- 
ture. And as these increase in an^^ country, in size, 
in beauty and in accommodations, do the arts of civi- 
lized life increase, and education spreads her wings. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 207 

We frequently hear it remarked that Christianity 
IS the great forerunner of civilization— less often that 
civilization precedes Christianity; and furtlierinore 
that these must gain a foothold before history, science 
and literature can flourish within the confines of any 
nation. It has appeared to us that all important 
things inthis world originated in small beginnings, and 
not the smaller in the more important. As the world 
has advanced from its tribal condition into that of 
states and nations, do we not notice tliat the laws of 
hospitality must be observed before civilization com- 
mences. That the wanderer instead of having his 
throat operated upon by the sharpish, ragged edge of 
a flint, or liis brains knocked out with a hammer of 
stone, must be kindly treated, entertained, fed, clothed, 
and sent on his way rejoicing. When the savage be- 
gins to entertain better motives, when his first rude 
ideas of law and order and community of interests have 
dawned on his mind, and he can view the stranger he 
chances to meet as not| altogether an enemy, he erects 
caravansaries or places in which the wanderer or trav- 
eler and his beast may be partially protected, if not 
led. This advancement marks the semi-barbarous 
condition of man, he has rulers and is subject to rude 
laws, cultivates rude arts and makes manifest tliat 
the first seeds of education are springing into life 
and will ere long bear fruit. But it' is not un- 
til his savage and barl^arous nature has been so tar 
wrought upon and modified by the enlightenment 
around him, tliat he sees the advantage ' tliat may 
accrue to himself, by permitting his more civilized 
neighbor to travel unmolested and safely through his 
country, and has provided convenient places Ibi- his 
safety and entertainment, that he commences to reap 



208 THE EAULY HISTOKY OF 

the true advantage of liis presence. Tliis is well ex- 
emplified by the present condition of north-eastern 
Russia and the steppes of Siberia. Houses for the en- 
tertainment of travelers, hostelries are erected in which 
the traveler may be comfortably housed and fed, and 
government provides a rude but safe and never-failing 
means of transporting him from place to place. As 
soon as this stage of advancement is reached, and not 
until then, the advancement in civilization, in the arts 
and sciences, of education, and the refinements of life, 
commences and advances with rapidity. Thus it ap- 
pears that the hotel is the avdttt courier of civilization 
and of Christianity, of education and learning. 

EARLY HOTELS IN JAMESTOWN. 

Previous to the fall of 1814 traveling in the south 
part of the county was confined ahnost exclusively to 
those who were viewing the counti-y in quest of loca- 
tions for their future homes. At the rapids, these 
were mostly accommodated at the Blowers house. 

Jacob Fenton with his family, settled at the Rap- 
ids in the spring of 1S14. Mr. Fenton was a native of 
Connecticut, a potter by trade, and a Revolutionary 
soldier. During the summer of that year, witli the 
assistance of Judge Prendergast, he erected — for those 
days — a large, two-storied house to be used as a tav- 
ern. It was located in the center of the half block on 
the east side of Main street, between First and Second, 
and opposite to the Blowers house. The location was 
a side hill and the house on the steepest part of it. The 
front of the building was to the south towards the 
outlet, and had a wide, two-storied verandah running 
its entire southern frontage.* The hill was so steep, 

* The front of this building was about 50 feet north of First 
street, and the west end 2h feet east of Main street. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 209 

that on the north side of the buildint^ the second story- 
was on a level with the ground. The house was com- 
modious, containing two large rooms on the lower floor 
with a wide hallway, and stairs leading to the second 
floor between; and a deep cellar excavated into the hill 
and under a lean-to behind and to the north, which 
usually w^as well stored with whiskey, venison, a few 
potatoes, etc. There were three large rooms and as 
many good-sized bed rooms on the second floor, and 
an attic divided into two rooms with sleeping accom- 
modations for as many as might apply. On the north- 
east corner of the lot adjoining Potter's alley and Sec- 
ond street was a 40x50 foot barn which it was almost 
impossible to reach on account of "The Quick Sand 
hole," which occupied Second street east from Main to 
Potter's alley; it was long and wide, and good judges of 
mud holes estimated its depth to be greater than its 
length and breadth combined. Fenton's tavern was 
not only the drlnklvg, but the business center of the 
hamlet of the rapids. 

Will the present inhabitant of Jamestown in im- 
agination stand wnth us, in the open verandah of the 
Fenton house and view its surroundings as they were 
within our remembrance. To the south, no building 
whatever; a patch of cleared land on the opposite side 
of the outlet, (Prendergast's meadow;) beyond a dense 
forest. Between the house and the race are perhaps 
two or three hundred saw logs, sitting on which are a 
dozen or more of squaws and lazy Indians; their M'ig- 
wams are on the sidehill and lowland, a little to the 
right you can see the smoke curling up in blue streaks 
among the trees and bushes. (Lucius B. Warner's 
grounds and fine residence occupy that location now.) 
You go and talk with thai old Indian down there on 



310 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the logs and he will tell you that "the smoke of his 
father's wigwam went up among the trees on that hill- 
side a hundred years ago or more, and that that side 
hill is filled with the bones of many warriors who start- 
ed for the happy hunting grounds from beside the 
runaway waters of Jadaqueh." At an early day that 
locality w^as known as the ''Indian burying ground." 
Down there to the southwest on the other side of the 
race is the saw mill, and that building in front (to the 
north) is the grist mill. The low building on the w^est 
side of Main street and below First street is the '-mill 
shed," just above and across First street is Prender- 
gast's store, immediately opposite and across Main 
street to the west is Dr. Hazeltine's house, and al)Ove 
it on the corner is Elisha Allen's tavern, by far the 
handsomest building in town, which until a short time 
ago was called the Cass tavern; and that building 
above, of wdiicli you can merely see the highest part 
of the roof and the chimney is Judge Prendergast's 
house; all beyond is dense forest. Now, look towards 
the east. That big Iniilding down there wdiere Gran- 
din's mill now stands is the "cotton factory" and the 
one beyond is Daniel Hazeltine's woolen factory and 
just across the alley between us and the cotton factory 
is Blower's slab shanty. The Judge has cut the pine 
trees along the side hill below Second street, to his 
east line and the woods you see over there belong to 
Dr. Foote. We are standing in the long two-storied 
verendali of Jacob Fenton's tavern which is on the south 
side of the house, if we were on the north side of the 
house we would see the big barn already mentioned,. 
Tiffany's store on the corner of Main and Second, and 
Abner Hazeltine's house on Pine street, just back of 
the Bush block, where the big brick barn now stands 



THE TOAVN OF ELLICOTT. 311 

and beyond on the west side of Pine street are three 
small houses in which live Chas. R. Harvey, Wm. 
Breed and Horace Blanchar, and on Second street is 
Phineas Stevens' house. There are other houses in 
Jamestown but these are all that can be seen from 
where we stand. This is a true picture of my earliest 
remembrance, from the point spoken of, of my native 
town. 

S. A. Brown, in his History of the Town of Ellicott, 
relates an anecdote of Fenton's tavern, somewhat as 
follows; During 1816 the race w^as dug, from the saw 
mill to Daniel Hazeltine's woolen factory. A dissipat- 
ed man by the name' of Osborne, commonly called 
"Mud Lark," had the contract and employed several 
men in doing the work. Jacob Fenton's tavern was 
but a few rods away, and he had plenty of the "good 
creature" which he dispensed by the drink to whoever 
called. Cliange was scarce and Osborne wished to run 
up a score. The question arose how the accounts 
should be kept and the following expedient was re- 
sorted to: Osborne should cut a stick of particular size 
and shape, which should be deposited for a drink. In 
this way Osborne obtained his drinks for a long time, 
and a large number of sticks had accumulated in Fen- 
ton's desk. Thfe time finally came for Osborne to pay 
his account. "Honest Jacob was as much astonished as 
Osborne to find that four or five times as many sticks had 
accumulated as drinks had been furnished, according 
to the mutual opinion of the landlord and his customer. 
Fenton knew he had dealt out as many drinks as he had 
sticks, but was thoroughly of the opinion that Osborne 
had not had the one-half of them and probably not 
over one-fourth of them. It was finally ascertained. 
that the hands had noticed Osborne's metliod of ob- 



213 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

taining' drinks, and liad cut sticks like them, and had 
got whiskey of the bar keeper without stint by the 
"forgery." Brown calls this the "factory race forgery," 
and quite unlike any he could find in the books; like 
the county, it was quite new. 

The year following, 1815, appears to have been a re- 
markable one for erecting large frame buildings for 
hotel purposes. In the spring of that year Phineas 
Palmeter put up and enclosed a large two story build- 
ing on the southwest corner of Main and Third streets, 
for a tavern, if any one desired it for tliat purpose; or 
for stores, possibly .^or a lawyer's office, or a doctor's of- 
fice, or a printing office; he believed it would be a 
good place for a theatre; that if the place ever got 
pious enough he would put on a steeple and make it 
into a church. Palmeter lived to see that building 
used for all the purposes he had so jokingly enumer- 
ated years previously, and for many other purposes in 
addition. Soon after the building was enclosed, a room 
was finished in the northeast corner of it for S. A. 
Brown's law office. The building remained unfinished 
for two or three years and was then sold to Gilbert 
Ballard, additions made to it, and a large barn built 
on the corner of Third street and Mechanic's alley and 
a long shed south of it; the space between the house 
and the barn filled by a one story building for a din- 
ing room and kitchen, and the whole finished into a 
tavern. The house was opened as such by Ballard the 
spring of 1818. 

In the summer of the same season (1815) Horatio 
Dix and Jesse Smith, erected a large building on the 
southeast corner of Main and Third streets for a tav- 
ern. Although this house was quickly, it was well 
built, and nearly completed tliat season, and a ball 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 213 

was given in it January 1, 1S16, the first ever given in 
Jamestown. The "ball room," so called, which in 
those days was considered as necessary in a tavern as 
a kitchen, perhaps not quite as much so as a barroom, 
they had not been able to complete in time for this 
hopping occasion, and Royal Keyes and Jediah E. 
Budlong although new comers got dunchiy mad over 
it. But they had sent out invitations for miles round, 
and tnose the most interested. Deacon Dix and his 
soon after son-in-law Jesse, were determined that those 
who desired to dance on New Year's day should be ac- 
commodated. So they loaltzed around, removed a 
half-finished partition between two large rooms on tlie 
first floor and liad a larger and better dancing room 
than they would have had in the regular ball room 
had it been finished. Everybody had been invited 
and everybody w^as there, but the persons mentioned. 
The ball room, as it was arranged, had a door at one 
end opening into the street, and a large fireplnce, just 
small enough to escape the appellation of "Dutch" at 
the other. There was wandering about the town a 
large, white, blind, old horse, who went as led, or oth- 
erwise, by a slap on the haunches and the word of 
command, "go it blind!" While the company was 
busily engaged in the evolutions of that fine old coun- 
try dance of "Money Musk," some one placed "Old 
Whitey" in position, suddenly threw open the door, 
gave him the slap, and the command, "go it blind!" 
He danced down tlie center, with a pace quickened by 
the music, in a straight line, with no (illenxmd either 
to "the right" or to "the left," scattering the Terpsi- 
chorian performers, and brought up in the fireplace. 
"Old Whitey" was as much astonished as were the 
compauy he was in, but he found even there old friends 



214 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

and acquaintances. He ''changed partners," was 
quietly led to the open door, the slap was given, "go 
it blind!" uttered and he '■'■ chussezed" out into the 
open air, having attended his first and last dance. This 
celebrated dance was long known as "The Blind 
Horse Ball." * 

This house was finished early in 1S16, and sold to 
Elisha Allen, who opened it to the public during the 
summer of that year, and also a large room filled with 
all possible kinds of merchandise, excepting dry goods. 
The principal articles kept by Allen were whiskey, 
pork, cable, old and new; ironware, tinware, salt .fish, 
peltries, etc. His clerk and general superintendent 
was Wm. Hall, (the late Wm. Hall, Esq.) a young man 
who two years previously had emigrated from Wards- 
boro, \{., to the town of Carroll. Hall agreed with the 
proprietor to manage this multifarious establishment 
for him, to keep and settle the accounts, the proprietor 
agreeing not to interfere or meddle with the business 
in any way whatever. Occasionally the proprietor 
would undertake to settle an account himself, in doing 
which, he would pay no attention to Hall's additions, 
footings, credits, balances, red lines, etc., but would add 
all together, from the bottom to the top of the page, 
making an indebtedness that astounded even himself. 
But it was correct; tliere were the figures; "Hall made 
them, and you must pay immcHliately." The amount 
claimed frequently was hundreds of dollars, wliere but 
two or three dollars were due. Hall would try to ex- 
plain to his principal that he was wrong, and that the 



* Several ve;ir.-i after J. E. BLidlon:,' wa< elected Colou'-il and 
Royal Keyes Major of the I02d regiment, and the blind hcn-se trick 
they had ijlayed on others was repeated with interest on themselves 
at the Ballard tavein See chapter on militia trainings. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 21b 

red lines showed where payments or settlements were 
made, Allen, in his way, would reply: "H — 1, Mr. 
Hall, (this was his one only, peculiar, swear word) "I 
don't know anything about your red lines and don't 
want to know; the figures must be right; you made 
them, and that is what the man owes; figures don't lie. 
When an account is paid the riglit way is to mark it 
out by putting a cross over it with a pen! But have it 
your own way, Mr. Hall, make as many red marks as 
you choose, JJ/71 Hall. H — ], I can stand it. Hall, my 
name is Allen. Mr. Hall, my bookkeeper, who does all 
the business says you have paid 3'our account. I will 
never trust you again as long as I live, remember that; 
but I'll treat, come on. Mr. Hall, Bill Hall, my book- 
keeper don't drink. H — 1, I would discharge him in 
five minutes if he did. No, no, I knew the Halls in 
W(id sherry before I came to this miserable swamp; the 
Halls are nice folks; I knew them in Wad sherry. Bill 
Hall was born in Wuthherry, and knows how to keep 
books, and don't drink." 

Allen was a shrewd business man and usually kind 
and benevolent; but he became addicted to drink, after 
which he was shrewd enough to employ tlie best men 
to manage for him his large business. His appetite 
was his (I. struction; he died in the year ISoO, still a 
young man. At the time of his death he was consid- 
ered the most wealthy man in Jamestown, next to 
Judge Prendergast. 

In the spring of 1820 Mr. Allen rented this tavern 
to Solomon Jones, and removed to what was then 
known as the Cass tavern, which at that time was not 
only the finest appearing but really the best building 
in the town. This house w^is on the soutliwest corner 
of Main and Second streets. Blinny Cass commenced 



21 G TflE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

this building in 1817, but it was not completed until a 
short time before its purchase by Allen. He opened 
this house immediately as a hotel, consequently the 
little village of Jamestown at this early period had 
ample accommodations for " men and beasts" of all 
kinds. An energetic young man named Disher, who 
had been a clerk in Prendergast's store, had become 
proprietor of the Fenton house, which thereafter f 
known as Disher's tavern. Jamestown now had four 
fair-sized hostelries, Disher's tavern, Ballard's tavern, 
Jones's tavern and Allen's tavern, all of them abund- 
antly supplied with " Solid food and liquid refresh- 
ments," as was chalked on the Jones house; -'^'enison 
and whiskey" as was chalked in large letters on the Bal- 
lard tavern; "Pork and Monongahela" was the legend 
done in coal on the Allen tavern. Disher displayed a 
regular painted sign, the first ever displayed in James- 
town. It was an unplaned l(5-foot gang board, on 
which was scrawled "The Disher House,'' and was the 
first time any other word than tavern was known to 
have been used to designate a public house — or as we 
now say^ — hotel. S. A. Brown, Esq., iii ])is Historv of 
Ellicott, relates the following anecdotes concerning the 
"Cass-Allen '' tavern in the year 1S20 : 

"In those days, taverns were haunted Ijy magis- 
trates as well as others. It was customary to appoint 
courts on Saturday, to the end that suitors aiul wit- 
nesses wlio chose so to do, migiit have a frolic on that 
day, and take the next to get sober and return liome." 
" Their resort witli their i-etinue of pettifoggers, 
was often a tavern soutli of tlie Ijank wiiich, with its 
long and lofty portico, was tlien nuicli admired. The 
landlord was a large, bony, muscular man, and if he 
had a customer more impudent or abusive than him- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 217 

self lie would 'conquer peace.' A noted pettifogger 
used frequently to be at this House, and on one occa- 
sion he was very saucy, as gentlemen of his profession 
were apt to be. For this offence the landlord chas- 
tised him severely. He came to my office for a war- 
rant, very bloody and reasonably drunk, but being 
satisfied that the landlord had as much been sinned 
against as sinning it was refused." 

"A certain justice used also to l)e at this house, 
who on one occasion, after having stayed about a 
week, some of the citizens thought tliey would give 
him a hint that his absence would be more agreeable 
than his company. In the center of the road opposite 
the tavern there was a large pine stump * against 
which an etfigy of the justice was placed. When all 
things were in readiness tlie justice was invited has- 
tily to go to the door, when he and his bar room com- 
panions rushed to the portico, and in a jnomenta slow^ 
match communicated with the powder, and scattered 
the image to the winds of heaven. The next morning 
a monument with a poetic epitaph beginning: 

(Here lies the Drunken Squire) "-"* 
was seen reclining against the stump. It was said that 
tills gentle rebuke did the magistrate a great deal of 
good, as he did not haunt the tavern here afterwards 
for some time." 

After a year or more experience as a tavern keeper 
Mr. Allen closed his liouse as a dispensary of "Pork 

* This stump w>is of unusiuil size, and stood ou the cast side of 
the street, about twenty feet below Tew's corner. It was sniotly re- 
moved under the "stump law." See chai)ter on Temperance Socie- 
ties 

** Th(;re was also, the next morning, near the stump, a board 
on two barrels, ou top of which were two bundles of straw wrapped 
up in a sheet to represent a cori)se. 



218 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

and Monongaliela,," but made it his residence as long 
as he hved, renting the front rooms and all others he 
could spare to new settlers who wanted house room 
only for a few weeks or months. After I80O it was 
again rented and used as a liotel. 

In the fall of 1815 Seth Kidder, a young man from 
Wardsboro, Yt., erected the frame for a liotel on the 
norhwest corner of Main and Third streets, making 
the third of these corners occupied that year fur public 
houses; and the fourth, the northeast corner, was soon 
after occupied as a horse barn for the Allen tavern. 
The streets at this locality were in the midst of an 
almost impassible swamp. The lots on the north side 
on which Kidder had erected this frame and on which 
the Allen barn was built, were swamp lots. At an 
early day the largest '* deer lick" in the. country was at 
the junction of Main and Third streets, and deer were 
killed there as late as 1813. It is within the writer's 
remembrance that there was a road made of logs across 
this swamp at the east side of Main street for the pass- 
age of teams, and slabs laid along the west side for 
pedestrians. The frame erected by Seth Kidder re- 
mained uninclosed until 1822, when it was bought 
with the four lots on which it and the barn which was 
to be, stood, by William Hall for |300.-" We now look 
upon that sum as a wonderfully small price for those 
lots. We must remember that this was ()5 yeai's ago, 
and what Hall bought was an old frame that had stood 
seven years without Ijeing enclosed, and lots which 
Prendergast gave to Kidder if he would erect the frame. 
Mr. Hall bad tlie frame enclosed and finished in a 
manner suitable for a pubHe house,and Solomon .Jones 

* Two of the lots fronted on Main and two on Cherry streets. 
All four of them were swamp lots. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 319 

and AVillicun Hall occupied it as such in the fall of 
that year. For many years it was known as Jones's 
tavern. 

William Hall, in 1824, married Julia, the third 
daug-hter of Solomon Jones. In 182S he built a house 
on his farm half a mile south of tile" viljao-e, to which 
he removed, and where he continued to reside for manv 
years, a plain farmer. In 1846 he iniilt a fine residence 
on the first bench of land south of the town, and which 
is yet occupied by his widow. Mr. Hall died on the 
6th of July, 1880, one of the most wealthy men of the 
country. 

Solomon Jones remained in the hotel for several 
years after Mr. Hall had removed to iiis farm. He 
retired from his publican pursuit in 1835, and for a 
short time, with one of his sons, was engag-ed in mer- 
chandising in the Hall building on the north side of 
Third street, but during the larger portion of the time 
he was the prominent justice of the peace, and contin- 
ued in this office until age forbade his performing its 
duties. He died at the age of 87 in August, 1862. 
Clarissa, his wife, also died at the age of 87 in Novem- 
ber, 1867. 

We would record here that Main street, between 
Second and Third, has been the theater of three de- 
structive incendiary fires. Tlie first occurred in the 
spring of 1837, in a store situated on the east side of 
the street, where the store of Wm. Broadhead occupied 
by Whitley, now stands. Seven buildings on that 
side of the street were burned, viz: Silas Titian v's store 
on tlie corner of Main and Second streets, his residence 
north and joining. Dr. Foote's drug store, the store of 
Barrett ct Baker, the store of Higley cfe Kellogg, and 
what was known as tlie old Forbes house, then occu- 



220 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

pied ])y Swift & AValbridge. The burnt district was 
soon rebuilt witli better buildings, excepting the cor- 
ner owned by Mr. Tiffany, which is now occupied by a 
large w^ooden building containing three stores. 

In 1852 we had a second incendiary fire, com- 
mencing in a store occupying the same ground in 
which tlie fire of 1837 commenced. This was still 
more destructive, sweeping away all of the buildings 
on the east side of the street between Second and 
Third, including the old Allen tavern. The ground 
was a second time rebuilt with brick buildings. On 
the site of the Allen tavern, A. F. and D. Allen 
erected a large, substantial l)rick hotel. 

Sam'l A, Brown, in speaking of the Cass house 
bought bv Elisha Allen, thus compares it with the 
fine^brick'hotel built by his sons : "This house, with 
im Ion- and loftv portico was then as much admn^ed 
as the elegant brick building erected by the Aliens, 
with its "superb stone columns, its lofty attic and 
splendid observatory." 

After the retirement of Solomon Jones Irom the 
tavern,' for a few vears it changed landlords frequently,, 
but finally was purchased by Warner D. Shaw, who 
continued it as a public house for several years, under 
the name of Shaw's hotel. Finally he purchased the 
Allen House, and removed thereto and closed the 
Shaw Hotel as a public house. 

In the winter of 1801 came the tlnrd mcendiary 
fire in this devoted district, far more destructive than 
either of the others. This fire commenced on the oppo- 
site (west) side of the street, and directly opposite to 
where the others had originated. 

^11 of the buildings on both sides ot Mam street 
between Second and Third were burned, including the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 231 

Allen house, the Shaw hotel north of Third and the 
Buildings north of it, up to and including S. A. Brown's 
office; also the building on the south side of Third 
street between Main and Cherry streets. This was the 
most destructive fire Jamestown has ever experienced. 
It occurred in the winter and in the night, the de- 
struction of property was immense, and the scene pre- 
sented on that occasion baffles description. The Allen 
house was speedily replaced b}' a larger but much less 
substantial and cheaper edifice than the one destroyed 
and was soon found to be ill adapted to hotel pur- 
poses. Its history is an unfortunate one; it is not 
necessary to give it here. It was finally bought by 
Mr. GifFord, great and expensive changes made, and 
what was intended for a grand hotel has been con- 
verted into stores and offices much to the benefit of 
the present proprietor, and of the town. The Ballard 
having faithfully served its ow^ners and the public 
-" during its day and generation," was quietly disman- 
tled and laid away. It was the only one of the many 
Jamestown hotels, early and late, tliat did not go up 
or dowji in a blaze. It was finally purchased by Mr. 
Hall who substituted for the old tavern a large wooden 
building containing three large stores with offices and 
lodge rooms for societies on the upper floors. This 
was erected in time to go down in the great fire of 
1861, when Mr. Hall erected the present substantial 
hrick block. 

The Allen tavern, on the corner of Main and 
Third streets after Solomon Jones had removed from 
it to Hall's new house on the opposite side of the 
street, had many landlords. We sliall not attempt to 
enumerate them. We will record two or three unim- 
poi'tant remembrances and leave the house and its 



5i22 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

publicans to the long slumber upon which tliey have 
entered. Nat. (Nathaniel) Smith, grandfather of 
Judge Marvin Smith, succeeded .Jones as the landlord 
of the Allen tavern. Indians were still more plenty 
in this section than white men, and although most of 
them were peaceable there were some ugly ones among 
them. All Indians are said to be fond of "fire w^ater," 
and the best of them in those days would run great 
risk to obtain it. Old John Bale, the Indian spoken 
of in our second chapter and several other ugly sav- 
ages were in Smith's bar room one afternoon, wanting 
whiskey. As they were already drunk Smith refused. 
Bale immediately kicked down the door to the bar, 
clutched two or three decanters and gave them to his 
companions. Smith seized the heavy fire poker but 
before he could strike. Bale stabbed him in the shoul- 
der; before he could repeat the murderous act Smith 
dealt a blow which laid the copperhead sprawling on 
the floor. He laid still and quiet; his companions 
viewed him for a moment, put their hands on their 
knives, and in broken English said, "Smitli kill Bale 
a good deal. Bale now kill Smith." But Nat. was 
ready for them. Although at the time he considered 
himself fatally wounded, he swung the heavy poker 
and a large piece of the speaking Indian's nose lay on 
the floor six feet away. Several at that moment 
rushed in and the Indians left, John Bale w^ith them. 
Smith had received a severe but not dangerous flesh 
wound. The writer, then less than nine years old, 
may date his introduction to surgery to this transac- 
tion. Our father took up two or three small arteries 
in a long superficial wound on the back of Smith's 
shoulder, and a person whose name we will not men- 
tion was asked to tie them, but Silas Tiffany objected 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 223 

to the person, and Sniitli said that tlio boy could do it 
best as his fingers were small. Tlie bov tied the 
''strings" as directed, and so adroitly as "to receive 
great praise from all for his dexterity; bnt it was a 
bad job for the boy as it caused him" many a heart- 
ache and more than one fight afterwards. Nearly 
everyone kiiows that boys, in the country at least, re- 
ceive nicknames, whether to their credit or not, that 
they hate with all their might, and soul, and strength. 
We shall always remember the first time "Gust" Allen 
called us -Doctor Pill Peddler." How manv thous- 
and times we were given this harmless, unmeaning 
title we do not remember, but we do remember hovv 
cruelly it lacerated our feelings, and we can now sit 
down and call up the quarrels and the fights by the 
score we have had because of that nickname. And 
we were not alone in this resenting of silly, meanino-- 
less, boyish nicknames. We know tliose wlio have 
been Judges, Members of Congress, Generals, Gov- 
ernors, D. D's., &c., who would fly into a furious rage 
and fight savagely because they were called by some 
supremely silly and meaningless nickname. 

We take the privilege of relating another story in 
which ourself and old John Bale are somewhat prom- 
inent. Six months or more after the stabbing of Nat. 
Smith, Benjamin Runyan, ourself and Eber Forbes, a 
boy of the same age, started out for a basket of lat 
pme for an evening's fishing on the rapids. Runyan 
owned the best light canoe on the outlet and had that 
day brought down from Crane's shop a new jack and 
two light spears. All was ready and the canoe drawn 
up on the race opposite to the present Erie express of- 
fice. We started for the pine. Up near where the 
bedstead. factory now stands, we found old John Bale, 



224 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Seneca Two Kittles, and another Indian and their 
squaws in camp. Seneca and Runyan were great 
friends, for Seneca had been a great help to Capt. 
Forbes who was a special friend of Runyan's on his 
retreat from Black Rock. Some one had given the 
Indian a small, poor, scrawny dog, with a very long 
tail. Seneca proposed to hold the dog, if Runyan 
would chop the tail otf. "No Seneca, I hold dog, you 
chop tail." "Yes, me chop tail some," says Seneca. 
Runyan laid the dog on his side on a log, holding his 
hind legs in one hand and the tail in the otlier. Kit- 
tle raised his axe. Uncle Ben watched every motion 
and as the blow came down, he jerked the dog quickly 
towards him, and the axe came down on the side of 
the dogs neck, nearl}'' severing the head from the body 
and killing him instantly. The Indian gazed for a 
moment with a look of astonishment, and then ex- 
claimed, "Ugh! Ben Seneca cut him short; much 
tail, little dog." He then shook hands with Runyan, as 
much as to say, "I harbor no ill feelings on account of 
the trick you have served me." Learning we wanted "fat 
pine" Bale took the basket and went into the bushes and 
soon returned with it heaping full of nice pine, which 
he set down before " Ebe." Runyan held out his hand 
to shake. -lohn shook his head and offered his hand 
to "Ebe" and then to myself, saying, "Bale's pine 
catch pile of fish." Turning to Runyan he said, "John 
know the boys. Cross Eyed Ebe, Captain Forbes's 
boy, captain brave man. John and Seneca see cap- 
tain at Conjockity. Brought home two men for cap- 
tain. Hurt some, well now." (This was after the bat- 
tle of Black Rock.) "And John knows Doctor Pill, 
tie up Nat. Smith. Nat. well. .John glad." Runyan 
then shouldered the basket and soon we had it stowed 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 225 

away in tlie canoe and ready for a start to the rapids. 
John Bale's kind heart filled our canoe with the means 
of an evening's enjojanent; it was the whiskey that 
stabbed Nat. Smith. 

In 18£0 the landlord at the Allen tavern on the 
cornier of Main and Third streets was a Dutchman 
named Van Velsor. He had a large number of board- 
ers, and very much desired a bell larger than the hand 
bells then in use, but none could be found. Phin. 
Palmiter, wlio w^as always in the way when wanted, 
came with his inventive genius to the aid of a Dutch- 
man's wants. He procured a large bar of steel and had 
it turned into an enormous triangle, which he had 
mounted in a frame on the roof of the house. Two 
pieces of heavy iron or steel bar were fastened to 
wooden arms and attached to the frame below the tri- 
angle. Cords fastened to the distal end of the wooden 
arms descended to the place wdiere the operator of the 
machine was to stand. By pulling first one cord and 
then the other, a louder, clearer, sweeter tone was elic- 
ited than we ever heard from any ordinar}^ bell. After 
the destruction of the Allen tavern it was the frequent 
remark of the old inhabitants that they sincerely 
mourned the loss of the triangle; they could scarcely 
keep house without it, for they regulated their own 
meals by it, and it made them sad to think they would 
never hear its silver tones again. Our advice to any- 
one wanting a first-class silver-toned "bell" is to get a 
triangle. 

In 1828 Ellick .Jones, the oldest son of Solomon 
Jones, erected a hotel on the south side of Second 
street, facing Prendergast avenue. It was here that 
"Sine" (Orsino E. Jones) spent his early boyliood days. 



226 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Mr. Jones's fir.st wife, Louisa Walkup, died here in 
1832. 

It is fitting that we give a fuller account of Ellick 
Jones, for he was an important person in the early 
days of the town. He was born in Dover, Windham 
county, Vermont, in 1800. When less than 10 years 
old he drove a team, or did more rugged labor, when 
Kis. father, Solomon Jones emigrated from ^'^ermont to 
the wilderness of Cliautauqua in 1810. His education 
was in part, that of our early common schools, but 
largely in the school of active labor, and worldl}^ ex- 
perience. A stouter, more rugged, useful young man 
never trod the wilde^Miess of the rapids; he grew up 
energetic, inured to hardships, and with expectation 
of battling with them. He was scarcely 20 when he 
married and moved into the log house at Jones's land- 
ing, vacated by his father's moving into the Allen tav- 
ern in Jamestown. He was early made captain of 
militia in the lG2d regiment, and for many years was 
known as Captain Jones. After the death of his wife 
he left the hotel and engaged for a time in the grocery 
trade, but after the failure of Elder Trumlnill * in sup- 
plying the village with meat, he went into that busi- 
ness and for many years kept the principal meat mar- 
ket in the village. He loas a very jyrommeji^, active^ 
necessary man in Jamestown, far more so than inhat we 
write of his pursuits would indicate. He had six 
children by his first wife who arrived at maturity; five 
of whom are now living. 

* Elder Trumbull liad been a Baptist minister. He biiilt the 
first slaughter house in Jamestown and sold his meat in the slaughter 
house. This slaughter house was on the so\itheast corner of Second 
street and Potter's alley. Wellington Griffith afterwards used it as a 
barn. Later it was moved b-jck and brick portion added in front for 
a livery. I believe a portion of tlie old slaughter house is included 
in the building now standing there. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 227 

Rufus, his eldest son, became a prominent man 
in the south. He died many years ago, the awful loss 
of his family, subsequently, in a burning steamboat 
on the Ohio is not for us to detail. 

Orsino E. .Jones, everybody in Chautauqua county 
and in the surrouuJing tftates is well acquainted with. 
Years hence, somebody will write the "Biography of 
the Hon. O. E. Jones." If any who now reads this 
history live until that time, we advise them to buy and 
read that interesting volume. 

Rinaldo w^as the third of the sons. He enlist- 
ed into Company B. of the Excelsior Brigade as a com- 
mon soldier and was among the first to answer 
to the country's call! He became a Lieuten- 
ant, but he was not spared to enjoy his hon- 
ors. It is on Decoration day that we most 
acutely remember that he gave his young life to his 
countr3^ 

Richard, the youngest son, is in business in .James- 
town. 

Calista the eldest daughter has been a prominent 
teacher in the Union School from its commencement. 
For over 30 years she has been a favorite teacher in 
the schools of Jamestown. If she should live to double 
her age, we doubt not, she would be found "teaching 
the young idea how to shoot." 

Sarah (Jones) Hall is also a teacher of the Union 
School of whom about the same might be written as of 
her sister Calista. Her husband, Samuel Hall, died 
many years ago. 

Elvira (Jones) Sterns is the last of this family. Her 
husband, who died a few years ago, was a most excel- 
lent man — a man of intelligence, well educated, a 
ready writer, a great reader. He was a particular 



238 THE EAELY HISTOEY OF 

friend of the writer, and it would please him to insert 
a memorial of Charles Sterns, but space forbids. 

Ellick Jones for a second wife married Harriet De 
Jean, by whom he had several children, daughters. 
He died of cancer of the face in 1866. His wife is still 
living. 

During the next few years this hotel had several 
landlords, the principal one of whom was Rufus Pier, 
Esq., one of the earliest settlers and previously spoken 
of as a hatter. Mr. Pier afterwards bought the old res- 
idence of Dr. E. T. Foote, together with about ten 
acres of land. Here he resided up to the time of his 
death. Katharine Blanchar, his wife, died there in 
1859; Rufus Pier in 1862. The property was after- 
wards sold to the Union School board and the first Un- 
ion school buildings erected in 1864. The hotel was 
finally sold to H. H. Loucks, and was destroyed by 
fire, as Jamestown hotels had been in the habit, in 
1862. Mr. Loucks immediately built a new and larger 
house, reversing, however, the order of things. He 
erected the house on the opposite side of the street 
where the barn had been, and the barn where Ellick 
Jones had placed his hotel. 

For several years there was a hotel on the south 
side of Second street, where Ahlstrom's piano fac- 
tory now stands. We will record that it was second 
class, had many landlords, and finally burned up. 
There was also, several years ago, a hotel on the south 
side of Warren street opposite to Harrison street, of 
which also may be recorded — second class, many 
landlords, destroyed by fire. We might mention other 
and less important hotels of early days, the most im- 
portant, perhaps, being the Wilcox house at the boat- 
landing, which for several 3a\^rs past was the residence 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 229 

of Cap't J. M, Murray, chief of police, and upon the 
location of which his present residence is built. 
Enough has been already written to show, that from 
the first year of its existence, Jamestown has been am- 
ply supplied with that forerunner of civilization — the 
hotel. 

After the death of Elisha Allen in the summer of 
18S0, the house which he had for ten years made his 
residence (the Cass tavern) was rented for hotel pur- 
poses, and like the other taverns frequently changed 
landlords. The only one we wish to especially men- 
tion in these remembrances is Willard Rice, the man 
who demonstrated the practicability of running a hotel 
in Jamestown on strictly temperance principles. Al- 
though there was consideraV)le opposition and some 
grumbling all around, Mr. Rice kept a strictly temper, 
ance house and with fair success. 

During the time Willard Rice was keeping the 
" Jamestown Temperance House," a good looking, 
plainly dressed young man stopped with him, stating 
that he had not much money then, but w^as looking 
about for a good place to settle, and expected very soon 
to in some way earn enough to pay his board bill at 
least. Rice said he did not look like a swindler or a 
beggar, and that he could eat and sleep at his house 
until he got ready to pay. "Young man, I consider 
that Willard Rice is an uncommon good judge of hu- 
man natur and you can stay as long as you want to." 
At supper and at breakfast he sat alone at the table 
and was waited upon by Mr. Rice's eldest daughter, 
Mercy. A mutual sympathy seems to have sprung up 
at first sight between the two, for the young man had 
not been over twenty-four hours under Mr. Rice's hos- 
pitable roof, before the young lady was informed that 



330 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

he was poor, and was at that time looking around for 
a place to settle; that he expected soon to find such a 
place, when he hoped also to find a good looking, in- 
dustrious girl, as poor as himself, who would be willing 
to accept him as a husband; and if as successful as he 
hoped, would in a short time, if energy and industry- 
could accomplish it, be rich. He had given her to 
understand that he was at the bottom of the ladder, 
but not discouraged; and should not be as long as he 
had good health and two bands, but that he must find 
something to do immediately, and that if nothing else 
presented he must take to chopping wood or sawing 
boards, for, to speak the plain truth, he had but half a 
dollar in his pocket, and must earn some money be- 
fore he could pay his board bill. She was not long in 
ascertaining that the young man was an extra fine 
penman, and suggested the getting up of a writing 
school, that her own chirography might be vastly im- 
proved, and that if he would undertake to teach her 
penmanship she would undertake to aid in getting up 
a class. The suggestion was a hapj)}^ one and was 
acted upon at once. The j^oung man wrote a " prospec- 
tus " in his best styles of penmanship, which under 
Miss Rice's direction he circulated among the young 
men of the village, and to which she added the names 
of several young ladies. A large class was secured, 
and the young man's pockets well stocked with half 
dollars. This school, one of the most successful ever 
in Jamestown, was taught in the ball room of the 
hotel. 

The young man had plenty of time to look around 
in our industrious, growing village, and its rapidly im- 
proving country surroundings. Log barns were then 
rapidly disappearing, and near many a dilapidated log 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 331 

house, the home of yesirs of weary labor and privations 
in the past, were being erected plain, neat white 
houses, these in turn now rapidly disappearing on our 
rich farms, and giving place to the elegant residences 
of our rich farmers, the children of the early pioneers. 
The attractions in and about our village grew upon 
him rapidly, and he soon made up his mind that if he 
could succeed anywhere he could succeed in James- 
tow^n. He had visions of peace, Mercy, happiness and 
final wealth. He judged correctly and remained. 
Some who belonged to that early writing school still 
think the young man w^as selfish in drawing up the 
prospectus ; that it should have read " Mercy Rice's 
writing school with Alonzo Kent as teacher." 

In January, 1834, Mercy Rice became Mrs. Alonzo 
Kenti For nearly fifty-five years they traveled life's 
journey together- — ^sharing its joys and its sorrows. 
This w^as most assuredly one of those unions founded 
on love, and mutual esteem, which alone can increase 
happiness in this life, without adding to its cares and 
its miseries. They lived — never forgetting that the 
vow was — "until death us do part." 

But the time for the parting came. It was a beau- 
tiful day in the early summer — the balmy air filled the 
lungs of all that breathed, with gladness — the birds 
sang together their sweetest songs. Nature had arrayed 
herself in deepest green, and decked herself with a 
thousand painted, fragrant flowers. Jn the midst of 
all this loveliness the summons came, and on the 8th 
day of June, 1886, Mercy (Rice) Kent left the scene of 
so much earthly joy, for those far more joyous ones of 
eternity. 

That it was the clear-headed Mercy Rice in. the 
background that pointed out to Alonzo Kent that he 



232 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

could make a writing school successful, and also pointed 
out the method of its management no one at the time 
doubted. If this be so, it was certainly she wdio laid 
the corner stone of that fortune which afterwards thev 
together enjoyed. 

Mr. Kent has been one of our most active and one 
of our most successful businessmen. In l.S34he com- 
menced the sale of dry goods in a small and provident 
way, ip what had been previously Shaw's drug store, 
just 'above Fenner's shoe store. He soon after entered 
into partnership with Walter Stephens, previously 
mentioned as a fanning mill maker, and they added 
lumbering to their previous trade in dry goods, in 
which they were successful. Mr. Kent continued in 
the dry goods trade, either alone or in company with 
others, until in 1853, when he established the James- 
town bank. Tlie name after t'lie war was changed to 
First National bank. He was made president of this 
bank in 1853, and continued to hold this office until a 
few years ago, when he retired in favor of his friend, 
Gov. Fenton. Since the governor's death he again 
put on the harness of active life, wliich he continues to 
wear. Coming to Jamestown in 1832 witli fifty cents 
in his pocket, x4.1onzo Kent, by energy and strict atten- 
tion to business, has made himself one of the wealthy 
men of the county. Formerly it used to be said of 
Jamestown "It is a busy, active, energetic village." 
There are but few wealthy men there, what capital 
they have is in active use and somewhat equally di- 
vided, They have no poor people; they all work and 
make their own living." This is no longer true. We 
now have our men of wealth, and our poor inen, too. 
The wealth has for the most part been accumulated 
here, and much of the poverty is also of indiginous 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 2o3 

growth. The principal causes of failure here as well 
as elsewhere, have been intemperance and neglect of 
business. Want of business tact has been operative in 
some cases, and misfortunes have blasted the prospects 
of a few, but these are the exceptions. Intemperance,, 
neglect of business, and dishonest methods, here as 
everywhere else, have been the great causes of failure. 
The time has come, or is near at hand, in which the 
Pearl City must erect her hospitals and asylums. The 
great factories and the beautiful residences of the in- 
dustrious, the temperate and M^ealthy are here, and tlie 
time has arrived in wliich hospitals, asylums, and 
other elemosinary institutions, gifts of the rich to the 
poor, of the fortunate to the unfortunate, should com- 
mence to adorn our beautiful city, speaking to the 
transient visitor in language louder than words: " We 
are a liappy, fortunate people ; true we have the poor 
and unfortunate with us, but these are our noble, 
charitable gifts, erected for their comfort and welfare." 

DISTILLERIES. 

As taverns and hotels have always been intimate- 
ly associated with distilleries, we include the latter in 
this chapter. 

.Jamestown at an early day could boast of two dis- 
tilleries; many years afterwards, it had its brewerv 
and its horrible tragedy, now it is thankful that it has 
neitlier. The first distillery was built in a dense for- 
est, in which only a small patch of ground had been 
cleared, on what now is the northeast corner of Sec- 
ond and Winsor streets. When but a small bo}^, our 
mother occasionally sent us there for " emptins," and 
well we remember the crooked road, full of deep mud- 
holes which through a heavy pine forest extended 
from Prendergast avenue to within a few rods of the 



234 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

"still," We have heard it said that the establishment 
was owned by J. E. Budlong and Walter Simmons, it 
was conducted by Walter Simmons; and Aaron Tay- 
lor at first and afterwards by Emeric Evans. The sec- 
ond distillery was erected on the bank of the outlet a 
little west of the present gas factory. Who erected it, 
we have not been able positively to ascertain. Our 
earliest recollection makes Eber Keyes, (Deacon Keyes) 
a bi-othcr of Royal Keyes, the owner of the establisli- 
ment, but whether this was during or after its use as a 
distillery, we cannot now say. Its use as a distillery was 
of short duration. It was closed for several years, and 
then used as a foundry and machine sliop. Mr. 
Brown, in his lecture in 1S47, makes no mention of 
this second distillery confining himself to "the first 
still." We copy from Mr. Brown's lecture read at 
Jamestown academy in 1847; "The first still erected 
in this town, was located a short distance north of the 
sash factory. The citizens were j)leased with this 
acquisition, believing it would make a market 
for corn and rye, and give employment for laborers; 
In those days of ignorance, there were but few wdio did 
not patronize it by word, and example too. But it had 
not been in operation long, before a coroner's jury was 
called to sit upon the body of a miserable inebriate 
who had stopped there at night and was dead in the 
morning. After the jurors had discharged their duty, 
the body was dressed for the grave and placed on a 
bench in an open shed on the east side of the still, 
there to remain until buried. On leaving the still, a 
bystander said to Gen. Harvey, the coroner, that he 
never saw a literal laving out hefove.'' 



CHAPTER IX. 

Newspapers A^iewed from Different Standpoints 
— Jamestown Journal — Adolphus Fletcher — 
Frank ^Y. Palmer — Coleman E. Bishop — Chau- 
tauqua Republican — Morgan Bates — Chau- 
tauqua Democrat — J, W, Fletcher — Other 
Early Newspapers. 

newspapers. the american college. 
Whatever may have been our original aptitudes 
for the acquirement of learning, and however great 
the advantages we may have enjoyed for its acquire- 
ment, the truth is now plainly seen and generally ad- 
mitted, especially in our own country,in which knowl- 
edge is more generally disseminated than in any other, 
that the most valuable portion of our education is that 
we derive from our daily and weekly newspapers. Since 
the discoveiy of the art of printing, books have ac- 
cumulated to a marvelous extent, for we now count 
them by the millions; colleges have been vastly mul- 
tiplied, academies are now found in every considerable 
village in our land, and the common school even in 
the newest portions of our country, are within easy 
travel of everyone. Nevertheless the newspaper is the 
principal teacher of the masses in this country. Our 
colleges and higlier seminaries of learning are abun- 



236 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

dantly supplied with the most learned professors, with 
extensive libraries, and with all the apparatus and im- 
plements for the most extended scientific research. 
Our common schools are amply supplied with care- 
fully trained teachers and all of these educational in- 
stitutions arc crowded witli learners. Notwithstand- 
ing this abundant supply of all means for the higher 
education, the most valuable and useful knowledge 
that we gain, from the professor down to the daih'- 
toiler on our railroads and in our factories, is gained 
from the newspapers, and the humble village print 
according to its size and circulation, is but little be- 
hind its city competitor in usefulness. Thousands up- 
on thousands in our land, learn to read, with but the 
single object in view — that they may read the news- 
papers. We are a nation of newspaper readers and if 
asked what do you consider the leading characteris- 
tic of the American we would answer, he can read and 
write and reads the newspapers. The sovereigns of 
America are educated and prepared to wield the na- 
tion's sceptre by reading the newspaper. It teaches us 
not onl}^ politics, political economy and the science 
of government, but also agriculture, philosophy, his- 
tory, literature, arts, moral and mental philosophy. 
Every trade, art or science known to this world in 
either ancient or modern times is thoroughly ex- 
pounded and taught in the American newspaper. 
Our most learned men, poets," philosophers, scientists 
and statesmen, follow the plow, liammer iron, make 
shoes, sit in our legislative halls and in the presiden- 
tial chair. They were self-educated — the newspaper 
was their text book. The newspaper is the American 
college which comes weekly or daily to every man's 
door, the best bulwark of our liberties, the defender 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 237 

of the weak against tlie strong, of the right against 
the wrong. It is the alarm bell of the nation, and no 
destructive influence is great enough to stifle its clar- 
ion tones, until the people have time to examine into 
the cause. All hail the newspaper; let it continue to 
speak, and to teach in this country in the future, as in 
the past. We can endure some evils rather than to 
limit the freedom of the press. A free press and free- 
dom will ever advance with clasped hands. May they 
ever remain free and united. 



THE NEWSPAPER, A TEACHER OF EVILS. 

The newspaper, if we approach it from one side, ap- 
pears to be the great source of general knowledge, and 
of highest value, but if we change our jy^>/?i?; (Tappid, 
and make our examination from the opposite side, it 
appears as a great hindrance placed in the pathway 
of virtue and intelligence. In a free country only, 
can it reach its greatest perfection, as a promoter of 
knowledge, and as an upholder of the right. Unfor- 
tunately in such a country, the greatest opportunity is 
given for the promulgation of truths of evil tendency 
and of doctrines injiu-ious to society and destructive of 
national life. It is a tenet of national law that it is a 
nation's duty to regulate and if necessary suppress all 
things injurious to the body politic. But how the 
present evil tendency of our newspaper shall be regu- 
lated if at all, is a grave question that we have not 
the ability to answer. An evil crying aloud for abate- 
ment for a long time, has been the medicine advertis- 
ing humbug. The advancement of science has called 
a halt to superstition, but her twin sister credulity is 
as smart and active as 2,000 years ago. It is certainly 
true that the sick and afflicted "catch at straws." The 



238 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

most barefaced falsehoods, and accounts of impossible 
cures appear in nearly all of our newspapers. The 
harm wrought in community not only pecuniarily, 
but to health and to life is wide spread and frightful. 
Our newspapers should be melanges of literature, of 
histor}^ and biography, of criticism, of politics, of phil- 
osophy, of religion, and of everything that the busy 
community pursue with ardor and solicitude but 
never of falsehood and deceit. 

The idle, vicious and dangerous classes in every 
comnmnity seize the latest paper with eagerness and 
read it with avidity, for they well know that there is 
advertised frequently in editorial columns, the latest 
movements, failures and successes of the idle and the 
vicious. Passing over the accounts of ball plays, 
horse racing, cock fighting and encounters without 
gloves between brutal men, all for the benefit of the 
blackleg and gambling community, which the mor- 
alist as well as the religionist and every man's con- 
science, not thoroughly brutalized, will say are wrong, 
these worthies find therein the latest scandals. If hap- 
pily none have transpired in the neighborhood within 
the past week, the editor does not forget this 
class, or the reading they so much love, but scans 
his exchanges and selects two or three cases that 
occurred in Nova Scotia, Texas, or Timbuctoo for 
their delectation. Their wants are known and 
carefully supplied. The majority of our best city pa- 
pers furnish one page of reading suited to this vitiated 
taste; and which is sj)read from day to day before the 
young people of the country, those wdio should read 
something useful, instructive, or at least moral. This 
kind of reading is beginning to taint all the rest; 
you cannot keep the meat you eat in tlie same market 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 239 

room in which there is carrion. If we will but look 
over the files of our newspapers and read the ordin- 
ary advertisements of our business men we will find 
they have caught the spirit of boast and untruth of the 
gamblers, and the advertisers of nostrums and patent 
medicines. This spirit of deceit, unchecked by the 
ordinary precepts of true morality, is found even in 
the columns of our local editors. The spirit of unre- 
straint and immorality is growing daily more unre- 
strained and more immoral. Ministers and moralists 
and editors daily warn us against a certain class of 
newspapers as well as against our yellow-covered lite- 
rature, forgetful that the largest heads the hydra wears, 
are to be found in the majority of our best newspapers. 
This is a truth few can or will deny. Most proprietors 
of newspapers admit it. They excuse themselves by 
saying, "If we should throw out these things it would 
lower our subscription list one-half" "John make 
money— honestly if you can— but make money!" 

EARLY NEWSPAPERS. 

The first newspaper published in Chautauqua county 
was The Chautauqua, Gazette, established as early as 
1817 in the then small but thriving village of Fredo- 
nia. Also the second paper was established there, in 
the year 1S21, the Fredonia Censor, which is now the 
oldest paper in the county. In 1824 a paper was started 
in Forestville called The People's Gazette, which two 
years later was merged in The Chautauqua Gazette 
under the name of Fredonia Gazette. 

The fourth paper was published in Jamestown in 
1826 by Adolphus Fletcher, and was called The James- 
town Journal. The paper has been published unin- 
terruptedly ever since, and of its Weekly edition is in 



240 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the 61st year of its publication, and the Daily in its 
seventeenth. 

Mr. Fletcher's parents lived a short time in Croydon, 
N, H., where he was born in 1796, but soon returned to 
their former home in Worcester, Mass. Adolphus, 
after spending a portion of his boyhood on his father's 
farm and in attending the country district school, was 
entered as an apprentice in the printing establishment 
of The Massachusetts Spy, which was established before 
the Revolution, and which ranked among the earliest 
and best newspapers of the country. He married 
Sarah Stowe when 21 years of age, and accompanied 
his father to this county in 1818. The Fletchers pur- 
chased of Ruben Slay ton, the first occupant, the pres- 
ent site of the village of Ashville. Adolphus Fletcher 
first engaged in f;xrming, afterwards in tavern keeping 
and later, in company with Dr. Deming, of Westfield, 
in merchandise. 

Alvin Plumb, the Harveysand the Hazeltineshad 
determined that a newspaper should be established in 
Jamestown, and Plumb and Abner Hazeltine had 
been for several months corresponding and trying to 
get a practical printer to come in, when they found 
they had one near at hand, only six miles away. Late 
in the winter of 1825, Mr. Fletcher, influenced by their 
urgent solicitations, concluded to enter into the ven- 
ture. He came to Jamestown and at first lived in the 
Tiffany store, which at that time was the only vacant 
l)uilding in town, and immediately built a good sized, 
two-storied frame house on ground now occupied by 
St. Luke's Episcopal church, and purchased a press, 
type and other material with but slight aid from any 
one beyond endorsement. The first number of the 
Jamestown Journal was issued in June, 1826. 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 241 

The day on which that first paper was issued was 
a memorable one with the good people of Jamestown. 
The press (a wooden one) was set up in the second story 
of the house; the stairs leading to the press room were 
on the north side, on the outside of the house. A 
number of the prominent citizens had collected in the 
street in front ofS. A. Brown's office near by, anxiously 
waitng to get the first issue of their first village paper. 
Boys were plenty in the street, on the stairs and in the 
room. Young Stowe, the " devil," a relative of 
Fletcher, was not in a good humor, for with the assist- 
ance of the boys who crowded into the room, a keg of 
ink was upset upon the floor. Fletcher scolded. Stow 
got mad and in reply to some rallying remarks 
of the boys, seized his ink balls, (then used instead of 
rollers to ink the type,) and thoroughly blackened the 
faces of Gust Allen, (the late A. F. Allen, Esq.,) and 
Niles Budlong, who made their way rapidly down 
stairs their companions following, screaming, "here 
comes the devils with the first papers." 

The first ten years of The Journal's life was in an- 
ti-Masonic times, and Chautauqua county was one of 
the strongest anti-Masonic counties of the stale. Dur- 
ing this period and longer, Abner Hazeltine was the 
editor of the paper; after him Emory F. Warren (since 
Judge) now residing in Fredonia, and later Dr. Nel- 
son Rowe "^ were the principal writers for the paper. 
But during the twenty years Mr. Fletcher was proprie- 
tor of the paper he held himself responsible for its con- 
duct and published that only which he was willing to 



* Nelson Rowe was brother-in-law to Rev. Rufua Miirry, of 
Mayville, one of the first ministers in Jamestown. Rowe stii(iied 
medicine in the office of Dr. Hazeltine, settled In Ellington about 
1845, he followed his brother in-law, Miirry, to Michigan and there 
died about 20 years ago. 



242 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

endorse. Some of the editorial articles were from Mr. 
Fletcher's pen. Every one of his children of both 
families early learned the art of type settincr. Every 
one of them first and last has been connected with 
newspapers, and have not only set the type but writ- 
ten many articles and occasional editorials. They are 
a family of type setters and writers. 

Mrs. Sarah Fletcher died many years ago. Mr. 
Fletcher married for a second wife Caroline Brooks, 
who was the mother of A. Brooks Fletcher, Mary 
Fletcher, Charles F. Fletcher; and Adelaide Fletcher,, 
who died in childhood. The children of Mrs. Sarah 
Fletcher were John Warren Fletcher; Maria, after- 
wards wife of E. A. Dickinson; Lucy, wife of A. Fenn 
Hawley; Susan, wife of Albemarle Tew; Harriet, wife 
of Rev. H. A. McKelvy; Cyrus D., w^ho died in Mani- 
tou Springs, Col., two years ago and Marshall, who 
died in infancy. 

In 1846 Adolphus Fletcher, twenty years after he 
established the paper, sold it to his son, John Warren 
Fletcher, who has since been connected with a num- 
ber of newspapers here and elsewhere, and who at the 
present time with his son is publishing and editing 
the Sugar Grove News. J. Warren Fletcher in 
1848 sold his interest in The Journal to Frank W.. 
Palmer, who entered the Journal establishment when 
a mere boy. He was the sole publisher for several 
years and the editor as long as he remained with it. 
He was a strong and ready writer. Palmer from the 
start was a man of mark; it may be said that he was 
educated in and for the printing office. He was when 
a very young man elected supervisor of the town of 
Ellicott and soon after to the state assembly. He was 
scarcely thirty when he left a flourishing business here 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 243 

and went west in search of a wider field wdiere he 
might grow; first to the city of Dubuque, Iowa, from 
thence to Des Moines where he was state printer. I 
think he served in the state assembly of low^a. After- 
wards he was elected as a member of congress. He filled 
many important offices. Finally he was editor of The 
Inter Ocean in Chicago, and for several years was post- 
master of that city. During a large share of the time 
Mr. Palmer had partners in the business, of the Jour- 
nal office, first, Frank L. Bailey, and at the close, E. 
P. ITpham. In 1858 he sold his interest to Bishop 
and Sackett. Four years later a brother of Mr. C. E. 
Bishop succeeded Mr. Sackett. In 18G5 Prentice 
Bishop died from wounds received in the war of the 
rebellion, after which Coleman E. Bishop conducted 
the paper alone up to 1866 at which time Alexander 
M. Clark became one of the proprietors. Since that 
time Mr. Bishop has been editor or proprietor, or both, 
of many papers. After leaving Jamestown he was for 
some time editor of the Buffalo Express — afterwards he 
went to New York and was the editor of a paper called 
the Judge. With all his brilliant talents and consum- 
mate ability, there is in his make-up too much honesty 
of purpose, and fearless expression of oj)inions to suc- 
ceed well. He is decidedly of the Greeley type of 
men — plain, honest, outspoken, and a superior writer. 
He is a terror to the dishonest and designing, and 
hated by the small fry of writers everyw^here. He 
ranks- among the most brilliant writers of the countr}'', 
and has entered into authorship. If Cole should ever 
die his epitaph should be — Here lies an honest man; in 
ability seldom equalled; sincerely hated by the pol- 
itical and social shams of the days in which he lived. 



344 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

At all times and for all occasions his motto was Semper 
paratus. 

In 1868 Mr. Clark became sole proprietor of The 
Journal, and January 1, 1870, issued the first number 
of The Daily Journal, with Coleman E. Bishop as edi- 
tor, which has been continued up to the present day. 
In 1871, Davis H, Waite acquired an interest in the pa- 
pers and in 1875 became sole proprietor. In 1876 Mr. 
Waite sold the Weekl}^ and the Daily Journal to John 
A. Hall, under whose judicioiis management the circu- 
lation of the papers was vastly increased. Mr. Hall 
was not only a fine writer but an excellent financial 
manager. John A. Hall died January 29, 1886. 

When we sa^^ that his death was a great loss to 
this town and section of country, in our own estima- 
tion, we do not fill the full measure of truth. He was 
one of those men of sterling worth, honor, integrity 
and mental power, that no community would feel that 
they could afford to lose. Such men are not quickly 
nor easily replaced. A memorial of John A. Hall will 
be found in this volume. 

In the spring of 1828 Dr. E. T. Foote and Joseph 
Waite, Esq., took the initiatory in starting a paper in 
Jamestown, favorable to Masonry and to the election 
of Gen. Jackson as president of the United States. Suf- 
ficient inducements were held out to Morgan Bates, a 
printer in the eastern part of the state, and he came 
to Jamestown with his press, type and other material 
and started the C^hautauqua Republican the same 
year. It was intensely Democratic and a/ifi Anti-Ma- 
sonic. I do not think that any time since party 
feeling ran as high in this section of the country as 
then. To belong to the opposite party was an offense 
that made enemies of neighbors, was carried into trade 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 245 

and business transactions, broke up or divided relig- 
ious societies, divided families and caused in fathers 
and sons and brothers the most bitter hatred to one 
another. Members of churches were accused of every- 
thing possible, unbecoming a Christian, and were tried 
in the churches by what they were pleased to call the 
accusation of "Common Fame," and disgraced without 
ever knowing who were their real accusers. 

Mr. Bates' printing othce occupied the ball room 
on the second floor of what had been the Ballard tav- 
ern. 

Mr. Bates personally was not a supporter of Jack- 
sOn and was thoroughly anti-Masonic, but he sup- 
ported the cause of his employers faithfully and with- 
out a murmur. He soon, however, found that they 
either could not or would not meet their engagements 
in the way of getting support for the paper, and after 
sinking a handsome sum of money in the venture, sold 
out to a Mr. Kellogg. During the next three years 
there were frequent changes in the proprietorship of 
the paper. After nearly five years of sickly existence, 
its last proprietor changed its name to Republican 
Banner. Tlie change was productive of but slight im- 
provement; finding a change of climate absolutely 
necessary, Mr. Hamilton, the last publisher, removed 
the invalid to Mayville, where, after lingering two or 
three months, it died of consumption. 

Mr. Bates was an active business man and a thor- 
ough, practical printer. His printing adventure in 
Jamestown was doubtless a great injury to him, one 
from which he never entirely recovered. After sever- 
ing his connection with the Republican, Mr. Bates went 
to New York, and was associated with Horace Greely 
in publisliing the New Yorker. Afterwards he removed 



346 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

to Detroit. He was several times member of assembly 
in the state of Michigan, and at one time Lieut.-Gov- 
ernor. During the early part of his residence in James- 
town he married Jennette, the eldest daughter of Dr. 
Cook, of Argyle, N. Y. Mrs. A. F. Allen, Mrs. Col. 
Brow^n and Mrs. W. A. Bradshaw were sisters of Mrs. 
Bates. Mr. Bates died a few years ago in Michigan, 
surviving his wife several ^^ears, who died from cancer. 

A semi-religious paper was started in Jamestown 
in 1829 by the Rev. Lewis C. Todd, a Universalist min- 
ister. It was not well supported and was discontinued 
during its second year. Mr. Todd was at one time 
editor, and we think one of the proprietors of the Re- 
publican. For two years or more he taught a select 
school in the old Prendergast academy, and was an 
excellent teacher. During his residence in Jamestown 
a long protracted meeting was held by an evangelist 
named Avery, in the Congregational church, at which 
Hon. S. A. Brown, Dr. E. T. Foote, Rev. Lewis C. Todd 
and a number of others were said to have " experienced 
religion;" at least they declared that they had never 
been thoroughly converted before. Mr. Todd soon 
became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, 
but some years afterwards returned to the Universalist 
church. 

In 1847 Harvey A. Smith, Esq., started a j)aper 
called the Liberty Star. After publishing it al)out 
two years he sold it to Adolphus Fletcher, who clianged 
the name to Northern Citizen. Mr. Fletcher published 
the Citizen for six years and then sold it, as he previ- 
ously had sold The Journal, to his son, J. AVarren 
Fletcher. This was in 1853. In 1855 J. W. Fletcher 
changed the name to the Chautauqua Democrat. The 
Democrat is now in the thirty-first year of its existence 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 247 

under that name, the thirty-seventh since its purchase 
as the Libert,y Star from Smith. A. Brooks Fletcher 
is at present editor and proprietor. During the thirty- 
seven years, the paper lias been owned by several dif- 
ferent persons and companies, but some member of the 
Fletcher family has been either owner or part owner 
since 1849. From the time Adolphus Fletcher estab- 
lished the first newspaper in Jamestown in 1826, either 
himself or one of his sons has been jiroprietor or part 
proprietor of a newspaper in this town up to the pres- 
ent time, a period of sixty years. And it would be un- 
just not to add to the list ever}^ one of the daughters, 
for every one of them were type setters ; every one of 
them were fair writers and contributed largely to the 
columns of The Journal, The Star, The Citizen and 
The Democrat. 

In 1872 A. Brooks Fletcher established the Daily 
Democrat which was published regularl}^ up to 1879, 
when he sold his interest in the Daily to John A. Hall 
& Son, who combined it with the Daily Journal under 
the name of the Jamestown Evening Journal. 

After the selling of the Liberty Star to Mr. Adol- 
phus Fletcher, Mr. Smith started another paper called 
the Undercurrent in the especial interest of anti-slavery 
as a political issue. The publishing office of this paper 
was in the second story of the building then standing 
on the southwest corner of Tliird street and Mechan- 
ic's alley, of which in Chapter xi we shall speak of as an 
"Inn of court." Jamestown and vicinity at that time was 
largely anti-slavery, but were far more willing to read 
the paper than to support it, and it departed this life 
in the second year of its infancy. 

In 1852 Dr. Asaph Rhodes again introduced an 
anti-slavery paper to the people of Jamestown under 



248 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the name of the Jamestown Herald. It was printed 
with the same type and pubhshed in the same office 
the Undercurrent had been, and may be said to have 
been a continuation of that paper. The doctor had 
been a pubhsher but a short time when he ghidly sold 
his press and printing material, together witli the sub- 
scription list and good will of the Herald to Mr. Joseph 
B. Nessell. The purchaser removed the materi;;l to 
Ellington where he published the Ellington Lumin- 
ary. 

Several papers have started into life but soon died 
out, since this period — the most important of which 
was the Standard, an excellent paper, l)ut not enough 
Democrats in the county to support it — it is not our 
province to mention these papers of a later date. Suf- 
fice it to say that The Jamestown Journal and the 
Chautauqua Democrat, papers of the early days, have 
lived through to the present, and are hale and hearty, 
showing neither decrepitude or old age. Each has 
enlarged with the enlargement of our town and settle- 
ment of the county. From the first neither has failed 
to make its weekly appearance, and to the increasing 
satisfaction of their many readers. The .Jamestown 
Evening Journal is a large, handsome, prosperous 
paper, now in the seventeenth year of its existence. 
At the present we have other and well conducted 
papers in the city of Jamestown, but they are of recent 
origin, and are not to be spoken of in this volume. It 
can be no detriment to these excellent papers, for us 
to express our hope that The Jamestown Journal and 
The Chautauqua Democrat will be as ably conducted 
in the^future as in the past, and that the children will 
not permit the papers of their fathers to die out. 
When we remember that such men as Abner Hazel- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 249 

tine, Emory F. Warren, Nelson Rowe, Frank W. Pal- 
mer, James Parker, Coleman E. Bishop, John A. Hall 
and Daniel H. Post in the past have either been edit- 
ors or leading contributors to the columns of The 
Journal and Democrat, to say nothing of the host of 
superior if not brilliant occasional contributors, or of 
the writers of the present time, we can say that the 
newspapers of the city of Jamestown, or those who 
represent them, need not take the most retired seats in 
a congress of New York state newspapers. 



CHAPTER X. 

Memories of the Past — I)k. Laran Hazeltine's 
First Visit to the Rapids in 1814^ — Moving 
INTO THE Wilderness in 1815 — Tributes to Dr. 
Hazeltine — His Family — Anecdotes of Drs. 
FooTE and Hazeltine — Dr. S.Foote,Dr.C.Ormes, 
Dr.W. p. Proudfit, Dr. Henry Sargent, Dr. S. I. 
Brown, Dr. Odin Benedict — Early Pharmacies 
AND Drug Stores. 



memories of boyhood. 
How melancholy and yet how sweet are the mem- 
ories of by-gone days. The bright and buoyant spring- 
time of youth, when our minds were free from care, 
our desires reaching no higher than present enjoy- 
ment, regardless alike of the future and its untried re- 
alities ! The dear old home with its thousand and one 
attractions ; the little streamlet wliere we were wont to 
build the most wonderful of saw mills and fabulous 
of bridges ; the old barn where we used to hunt the 
fair white eggs and tumble on the hay ; Mother's gar- 
den in which the strawberries and the flowers were so 
abundant in their season; the sled and icy hill in win- 
ter ; and the old weather beaten academy on the hill. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 351 

where we acquired the first riidiinents of knowledge, 
and a wholesome dread of the birch— these, in them- 
selves "trifles light as air," seem to us— now fading as 
they are ni the dim twilight of the past— like the hap- 
piest portions of our existence. 

The home circle of our childhood— blessed para- 
dise on earth— now onlj^ a memory ! The beloved 
father and mother ; the dear brothers and sisters; with 
the parents twelve of us in all. Some died in child- 
hood ; others sought for themselves new homes—but 
all gone ; now "all in the churchyard lie "—all but 
brother "Dick" and myself These are hallowed 
memories;— they can perisli only with life. Years of 
cruel buffeting with the cold, unsympathizing world 
serve only to brighten the links of the golden chain 
which binds us to the liappy past, so mournful in re- 
view. And now, altliough our pathway looks steep 
and rugged, overshadowed by the yew and the cypress, 
standing solitary and alone in the dark, clouded, murky 
an- of failure, misfortune and grief which no tear of 
pity .can assuage, these memories cheer us, press on 
our remembrance worlds of love and sympathy, and 
seem to prepare us with resignation to live through the 
few short days of our allotted time remaining. Our 
memories are of tlie quiet, pleasant village, that was 
overshadowed by tlie busy, ambitious town, which 
has become as if by magic this active, noisv, bustlino- 
city. ' • '^ 

DR. LABAN HAZELTINE. 

^ Early in the fall of 1814 Dr. Laban Hazeltine, of 
Wardsboro, Yt, who, in May, 1813, had married Con- 
tent Flagler, a daughter of an old Knickerbocker lam- 
ily in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and who had received her 



252 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

education at the then celebrated school of Dr. Lyman 
Beecher in Litchfield, Ct.,— mounted a favorite horse 
at the house of his father-in-law in the neighborhood 
of the old Saratoga battle ground and turned his face 
toward the west. Then, as now, the advice " go west, 
young man," was constantly given to him desiring to 
mark' out a home for himself. His uncle, Solomon 
Jones, also of Wardsboro, Vt., had emigrated to the 
wilds 'of southern Chautauqua in ISIO, the same year 
that Prendergast located at the rapids, and had several 
times written' for him, and finally sent him a strong 
appeal, reinforced by an especial invitation and urgent 
request from Mr. Prendergast to come and cast in his 
lot with those who had settled at the rapids. Dr. Ha- 
zeltine arrived at the house of James Prendergast, Sept. 
14 1814, was warmly received, and during his stay 
made it his home. After visiting his uncle, Solomon 
Jones, and a few old Vermont friends who had just 
come'in and were scattered through the settlements, 
he said to Mr. Prendergast that he had come into the 
wilderness to make it his home ; that he had made up 
his mind to this before he left the east. He could 
grow up a good practice in Poughkeepsie ; he had had 
a strong invitation to go to Brooklyn, and also another 
to o-o to Trov. As he came through he was urged by 
a physician in Utica to stop and go into business with 
him,'and at Rochester was greatly tempted to remain, 
and'believed if he had he would have advanced his 
own interest in so doing. But he started with the in- 
tention of coming to the rapids, as he had so strongly 
urged him to do; he had come with the resolve of mak- 
ino- here his future home. He admitted that he had 
entertained a poor idea of the country before he saw it ; 
that it was much more heavily timbered than he had 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 353 

expected to find it, and that it would, he feared be a 
tedious work to clear the land, convert it into farms, 
and make it habitable for anything more civilized than 
Indians. But he was not discouraged ; he had come 
with the fixed resolve of remaining. He was young, 
stout and healthy, and believed he could endure pri- 
vations equal to the best of them, and there was some- 
thing in the deep wilderness of the country that 
charmed him, and made him wish to become a part of 
it. He desired to buy a home, or have one built for 
him at the rapids and a farm within a mile of it ; he 
would then return to Dutchess county and be back 
again by the first of June following. Mr. Prender- 
gast advised him to locate either on the northw^est 
corner of Main and Fourth streets, or where Mrs. 
Ormes now resides; both locations w^ere then cov- 
ered with a deep forest. But the doctor took a 
fancy to the locality of the Blowers house on the w^est 
side of Main street. He liked tlie deep gulf with the 
swamp stream running through; he liked the house- 
wdiich was large, framed from oak and well built, and 
he thought the big blacksmith shop would make just 
such a barn as would please him. The three lots oc- 
cupied by Blowers belonged to Judge Prendergast and 
were quickly conveyed to the Doctor, the considera- 
tion being ,^440 and that included the transforming 
the shop into a barn and certain improvements in the 
house, possession to be given the following first of 
May. This with the improvements to be made w^as 
considered as just one-half the value of the property. 
He also bought the article of 100 acres of land on lot 
40 on the west side of what is now Warren street ex- 
tending from the present Busti line north to near the 
rise of ground on Prospect street. Nathaniel Kidder, 



254 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

who afterwards settled at what is now called North 
Warren, cleared the first twent3"-five acres, and the 
late Ezbai Kidder split the rails and set up the first 
fence enclosure. During his stay at the rapids in Sep- 
tember, 1814, Dr. Hazeltine took the charge of several 
sick persons which required him to ride through the 
wilderness ten to fifteen miles daily and detained him 
nearly four weeks after he was otherwise ready to re- 
turn to the east. 

Two or three days before the Doctor's return he 
was called to M. Frank's (probably Michael.) On ar- 
riving there lie found a dozen or more of the settlers 
collected. The purpose was to induce him to return 
and settle at the rapids, many believing he would 
never come back. Learning the object of the meet- 
ing he assured them that he should certainly return 
if he lived. After partaking of a lieart}^ dinner of ven- 
ison, cooti and joluiny cake, Uriah Bently said to him, 
'■^Labe, I believe you are a fraud. I will bet j^ou a cow 
you will never come back." Well if I did not you 
would lose your bet. "No I shouldn't, I would go 
all the way to Saratogue and take it out of your hide." 
John Frank bet a pair of sewed boots, M. Frank a 
pig, Mr. Steward one dead buck a year for five years. 
Mrs. Plumb 10 yards of the best tow cloth she could 
spin and weave. The account says, "They all bet 
something, but they were not bets so far as I was con- 
cerned, and I made up my mind they were gifts to in- 
duce me to come back. If I had intended not to come 
back I certainly should have changed my mind after 
this meeting. It was a happy time for me." "I have 
been back nearly six weeks and all came in with their 
bets to-day excepting Uncle Liphe who was here and 
says he shall certainly pay during the first snow this 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 255 

fall and James E. who shows me the greatest compli- 
ment by not paying. Next to Uriah's cow and calf, 
the most useful present just now is * Aaron's 20 bushels 
of oats —my poor horses need them. May they all 
have health and be prospered is the best I 'can wish 
them, in the great labors before them in this deep, 
howling wilderness." 

As we copy this transaction it is not easy for us 
to consider that it occurred 73 years ago, and that the 
actors, then young and full of energy and bright an- 
ticipations for the future, have all passed away. 

Dr. Hazeltine left the rapids on the morning of 
the 28th of October for his long ride of over three hun- 
dred miles through the wilderness and did not arrive 
in Saratoga county until after the middle of Novem- 
ber, having in less than four months rode on horsback 
twice the whole length of the state and in addition 
one month's ride in the wilderness and a large por- 
tion of that distance without roads. From Saratoga 
he went down the river to Poughkeepsie where his 
wife was residing. 

On the sixth of April, 1815. with three heavily 
loaded wagons and three riding horses, (two of which 
were occasionally used in harness,) he started for his 
new home in the wilderness. One of the wagons 
contained 1200 pounds of medicines purchased in Al- 
bany, a quantity of farming implements and a box of 
books. Their progress was slow and tedious and to 
add to their misfortunes during the third week of their 
* iVho was meant, by "Uncle Liphe," .Tames E. and Aaron we 

btewaid, father of Sardius Steward of Ashviile. James E mav 
have been James Edmunds. But who was intended by Aaron we 
have found no one able to ffuess. We think there was^ an Aaron 

?hr^rit:'r'?;:S;emSrn?r ^°' '''' ^^^^^"^^ '^^^ «^^-- '^^"^^ 



356 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

journey Dr. Hazeltine came down severely ill with 
ague. It was only during the eighth week of their 
pilgrimage that they arrived at the rapids, May 27 or 
28. 

At the time they passed through Buffalo the In- 
dians were ver}?^ troublesome at that locality and it 
was almost impossible for a settler to get through 
without having many of his goods stolen by them. 
The Doctor had daily shakes of the ague, and when 
they arrived there was very sick and the teamsters 
tired out. Mrs. Hazeltine was a small woman, never 
weighing 100 pounds, but as resolute and brave as she 
was small. She had driven one of the teams with her 
own hands from Syracuse to Buffalo. Wm. Bemus, of 
Bemus Point, was owner and driver of one of the 
teams. We cannot now say, (a memorandum being- 
lost) whether one of his teams was used the whole dis- 
tance from Saratoga to the rapids, but believe it was, 
as Bemus was originally from that section. One of the 
teams, was sent on from his farm on Chautauqua lake 
and met them at Batavia, at which place the contract 
for one of the teams from Saratoga ceased. At Buffalo 
Bemus said to Mrs. Hazeltine, "Content, the doctor 
must not be disturbed to-night; if we wish to get him 
through to the Rapids; this is the worst place on the 
whole route, the Indians steal all they can lay hands 
on here. I am going to have you mount guard to- 
night. Here is a musket with a good bagonet (bayo- 
net) on it but it is not loaded. If you see any of the 
Indians around, take it up and carry it, and if they 
come too near don't be afraid to prod them with the 
sharp end of it." After a moment's reflection she re- 
plied: "I wish you to put a small load into the mus- 
ket, Uncle William, and I will stand guard as you di- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 257 

rect. They would take it away from me before I could 
use the bayonet, but I believe I could shoot one of the 
scamps rather than have the wagons pillaged." Bemus 
said he would have one of the men load the musket, 
remarking he was afraid that with a loaded musket 
she might harm herself. " Now,'"' says he, " I shall 
pretend to sleep, but shall keep awake. I have thought 
it all over and believe you will be the best person we 
can put on watch to-night. Don't be afraid ; remem- 
ber, I shall be wide awake." The evening was not far 
advanced before three or four marauders put in an ap- 
pearance. Mrs. H. bade them begone, and that if they 
came near she would fire at them. The Indians drew 
off, one of them good naturedly muttering ; " Very 
little squaw but much gun. Indian go away ; just like 
little squaw to shoot some ; might get hurt a good 
deal." Bemus remarked next day, "It worked as I 
expected ; that the varmints would be more afraid 
•of a woman with a gun than a man, or if not would at 
least show her more respect; but I took good care that 
Lehigh put powder into the pan but none in the gun." 
After leaving the Cross Roads it was in the after- 
noon of the third day before they reached the rapids. 
The wagon drew up in front of the Blowers house; no 
prej)aration had been made for their reception, the 
reasons why need not appear in this narrative. The 
north room of the house, the one they expected to oc- 
cupy that night, was filled witli benches for a school 
and Blowers had not removed from the remainder of 
the house, although Judge Prendergast had made 
other provisions for him four days previously. Mr. 
Prendergast had been three days absent from home, 
had just returned and found Blowers dead drunk and 
Mrs. Blowers awav from home. Mr. Prendergast, 



258 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Jacob Fenton and others carried out the school fix- 
tures, and Mrs. Prendergast and Mrs. Fenton mopped 
out tlie room. Part of the goods were deposited there- 
in and a bed made on the floor for the night. The re- 
mainder of the goods were placed in the blacksmith 
shop which had been converted into a barn as per 
agreement. The plan wliich had been devised to 
keep Dr. Hazeltine out of his house did not work. 

Dr. E. T. Foote, who had come to the rapids a few 
weeks previous to the arrival of Dr. Hazeltine and 
family, came in the next day and said pleasantl}^, 
"Dr. Hazeltine, I believe it is customary for the old 
physician in a place to call upon a new professional 
comer. I have been here nearly four weeks and you 
see I have obeyed medical etiquette in calling. This 
daily ague which 3'ou have is a bad thing in a new 
country. I have brought with me a bottle of good 
whiskey and a couple of ounces of the best Peruvian 
bark (the correct things in those days,) and as now is 
just the nick of time for you to take a dose, with your 
permission I will prepare you one." The sick doctor 
thanked the well one,. remarking that his prescription 
was altogether oi^thodox and according to the best 
au'^horities, but knowing that medicines would be 
scarce and difficult to procure in this wilderness coun- 
try he had employed all his leisure time during the 
past year in reading Thatcher and other authors on 
the indigenous Materia Medica of the country, and 
had during his stay in the previous fall gathered and 
prepared a quantity of the bark of the Cornus Florida 
(boxwood,) and it was now a good time to test its vir- 
tues and Thatcher's laudations of it. His wife had 
boiled up a quantity of it until nearly as thick as syr- 
up and he had already drank half a tumblerful of it 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 259 

and declared he believed he should miss a shake that 
day. He also said to Dr. Foote that he had always 
been opposed to rum and never drank it but once in 
his life and then it was poured down his throat by 
some young friends at a dance through a tin funnel. 
This was before the days of quinine which is the ac- 
tive principle of the Peruvian bark. Foote, instead of 
administering, begged a quantity of the bark to try 
on two ague patients then on his hands. We do not 
believe that either of the doctors used a pound of Per- 
uvian bark in their practice after that date. In fact 
Foote gathered that season a large quantity of the 
bark which he prepared with much care with his ow'n 
hands and sent it to friends among the physicians in 
the east for distribution and trial. 

Dr. Hazeltine gave his entire attention to the 
study and practice of medicine up to the last week of 
his life. He died May 4, 1852. His active life was 
spent in the heavy cares of the sick room and in pre- 
paration for the duties involved. 

We make the following extract from an obituary 
notice published at the time of his death, and which 
we are informed was from the pen of the late Silas 
Tiffany: 

" Dr. Laban Hazeltine, one of the oldest and most 
respected citizens of this village, died at the residence 
of his son on the 4th inst. Though not wholly unex- 
pected the intelligence of his death fell upon our citi- 
zens with a painful shock. For nearly forty years he 
had been a resident and practicing physician in our 
midst, and identified with the growth of the village 
from infancy. He had been unusually successful as 
a physician- — uniting with a thorough education, the 
clearness and accuracy of judgment, which were 



2G0 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

marked characteristics of his hfe, and he therefore pos- 
sessed the confidence of the community to an unusual 
degree. In the rehition of a citizen no man stood 
higher than he. He was possessed of a large fund of 
general intelligence, elevated purposes, and his habits 
and influence, were distinguished by a higli moral 
tone. The vacancy occasioned by his death, cannot 
soon be filled. The medical profession have in him 
lost a wise counsellor and society a most valuable 
member. 

"Dr. Hazeltine with his family became a resident of 
Jamestown in June, 1815, when the village numbered 
twelve families, his own making the thirteenth. These 
families occupied some half dozen small, unfinished 
houses, all of which stood on Main and Cherry streets, 
below Second. Only two of them were above Second 
street. He was then young, active and vigorous and en- 
tered upon the practice of his profession in this, then, 
almost unbroken wilderness with his characteristic en- 
ergy and zeal. The country soon filled with inhabi- 
tants, but good roads and bridges did not accompany 
the settlers from their homes. Many professional vis- 
its were made by him, when the only means he had 
of finding his patients, was to follow the track of the 
Holland Land company's surveyors indicated by the 
trees they had blazed. 

" Dr. Hazeltine diedm his 63d year of chronic her- 
editary disease of the kidneys. He was a native of 
Wardsboro, Vt., and his medical studies were pursued 
under the famed Paul Wheeler, and he attended the 
Medical Lectures of Dartmouth College. He was de 
scended from the earliest settlers of Massachusetts. 
His ancestors were among the earliest pilgrims who 
landed at Salem harbor with Gov. Winthrop. He 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 261 

was always careful to state that he belonged not to 
the Puritan but the Pilgrim stock of NeW England 
His ancestors were among the earliest settlers on the 
banks of the Charles. He was no less thoroughly 
American in his habits, his feelings and his principles, 
than he was in descent." 

Dr. Hazeltine was a devoted student of Nature in 
the best sense of that term. He was at all times ac- 
customed not only to reverentially study Nature but 
to look thro' Nature up to Nature's God. The lovely 
flowers with which he had strewn the pathway of his 
being were bright and fragrant to the last, they smiled 
up to him as children to the face of a father. The 
perception of physical beauty, the intelligent love of 
nature, tiie philantlu-opic and benevolent spirit, tlie 
literary taste, which were the day stars of his youth 
continued their ministry in riper age; with the holier 
presence of domestic sympathies, of well-founded 
friendships, and of blessed remembrances was blend- 
ed the consciousness of a life passed in the perform- 
ance of the sacred duties of his profession. One of his 
last remarks was that he looked back on his past pro- 
fessional life with satisfaction, for he had labored to 
prepare himself for its duties, and had performed them 
honestly to the best of the ability given him; and that 
he looked to the future, if with misgivings, not with 
fear. That he had at times harbored feelings which 
he now regretted; that it had been his study to do 
right, but self righteousness was a poor guide for man 
to rely upon. 

A clergyman now dead who was well acquainted 
with Dr. Hazeltine and who for many years was a 
most intimate friend writes of him as follows: "It is 
with pleasure that I send you what I wrote concern- 



262 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ing your father at the time of his death. When I con- 
sider him as the hard-workings, self-denying physician 
to the sparse inhabitants of a wilderness; when I 
pass before my memory his unblemished moral char- 
acter, when I remember his devotion to his profession, 
his great literary ^and scientific attainments; when I 
remember him as I knew him, I must believe that the 
most remarkable man I ever knew has passed from 
the stage of earthly life. During the earlier years of 
his career, he imbibed Socinian opinions and was led 
to reject the doctrines touching the divinity of Christ, 
but under the teachings and influeiice of the Rev. Mr, 
Murry, he relinquished tliese sentiments, and in pro- 
cess of time adopted the doctrines of the Episcopal 
cliurcli. 

"All who knew Dr. Hazeltine, your father and my 
most intimate friend, will vouch that he was not only 
a Christian but a scholar of no ordinary attainments; 
the extent of his talents and erudition was known only 
to the few. He possessed so quick and retentive a 
memory, that what he read or heard with interest, be- 
came his own, and hence his mind was a store house, 
in which were deposited the riches which others as 
well as himself had collected from the vast sources of 
the natural, moral and scientific world. His percep- 
tion of tilings was remarkably clear, discriminating, 
and consequently wonderfully correct. He almost in- 
tuitively saw the nature and bearing of things as soon 
as presented to the sifting qualities of his discrimi- 
nating mind. His mind was so large and comprehen- 
sive, so trained in analysis, that he generally could 
take in the whole of a subject as well as distinguish 
its minute parts; and hence he possessed in a more 
than ordinary degree the rare talent of correctly clas- 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT, 263 

sifying and placing facts in a luminous order. The 
versatility of his talents and the extent of his erudi- 
tion was truly extraordinary. He seemed to be capa- 
ble of fixing his mind with intensity on the most op- 
posite subjects, and there is scarcely a department of 
literature or philosophy of science or of medical 
knowledge, with which he was not familiar. His let- 
ters to his friends were not only noted for their cor- 
rectness and purity of style, but for the scientific 
knowledge they displayed, adorned with the imag- 
ery of a vivid imagination, which rendered them the 
choicest of possessions with those who were fortunate 
enough to receive them. His manliness was only 
equalled by his highly ciiltivated mind, his highly 
cultivated mind only by his desire and ability to be 
useful." Although eminently social he was wonder- 
fully retiring and modest in his habits, and I most 
conscientiously believe he was the only man I ever 
knew, who never harbored a prurient thought. He 
loved nature, and was one of nature's truest noblemen. 
In the life and character of Dr. Laban Hazeltine 
we see nurtured, with a beautiful and holy care, 

" those first affections, 

Those shadowy recollections, 

Which, be they what they may, 

Are yet the fountain light of all our day, 

Are yet a master light of all our seeing; 

Uphold us— cherish,— and have power to make 

Our noisy years seem moments in the being 

Of the eternal silence; truths that make 

To perish never; 

Which neither listlessness nor mad endeavor. 

Nor man, nor boy, 

Nor all that is at enmity jvith joy 

Can utterly abolish or destroy." 

— Wordsworth, 



264 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

After a short time Dr. Foote abandoned the pro- 
fession for poHtics, and the duties of various offices 
which he from time to time filled. Both men for a 
few years were extremely enthusiastic in studying the 
remedial powers of the indigenous medicines of the 
country. Learned physicians in New York, Philadel- 
phia and elsewhere wrote to Dr. Hazeltine long letters 
of inquiry. He was considered authority on the sub- 
ject and he contributed to the early medical jour- 
nals liberally on this and other subjects. 

To Laban and Content (Flagler) Hazeltine were 
born ten children, all of whom died in infancy or child- 
hood excepting four, viz: Gilbert, Martha, Charlotte 
and Richard. All of them were born in Jamestown ex- 
cepting John, who was born in Dutchess county and 
there died in infancy. 

Gilbert W., (the writer,) the third of this family, 
has now passed his 70th year. He was educated in 
the common schools — the Prendergast Academy and 
The Academy of Jamestown and in Allegheny Col- 
lege into the Junior year, when he was obliged to leave 
in consequence of disease of the eyes. The college 
course however he completed at home. His medical 
education was gained by nearly six years' study in his 
father's office. He then attended one course of lec- 
tures at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, 
where he was Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy to 
Dr. Grant who was ill and soon after died, the entire 
labor devolving upon the writer. He went with Pro- 
fessor Pattison from Jefferson to the University of the 
City of New York and was one of the Demonstrators 
of that school. In 1842 because of his father's sick- 
ness he resigned and came to Jamestown where he 
has resided ever since. In 1843 he married Eliza Car- 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 265 

oline Boss, of Forest ville, by whom he had four chil- 
dren and of whom two only are now living, 

Mrs. Hazeltine was one of the most noble of wo- 
men. Her love of children and a desire to make them 
happy was one of her most prominent characteristics. 
She stood very high in the estimation of all who knew 
her, and few die more universally and sincerely la- 
mented. 

We should feel that we had not fulfilled our 
whole duty to our native town were we to omit placing 
here a memorial written at the time of her death, by 
one of her sincerest admirers, Abner Hazeltine, 

DIED. 

"In this village, on Monday, Aug. 20th, 1860, Mrs. 
Eliza Caroline, wife of Dr. Gilbert W. Hazeltine of this 
village, aged 35 years. 

"The death of this estimable lady is an event too 
sad to be merely announced by the usual passing no- 
tice stating her age, residence and departure. Real 
worth, whenever or however manifested, should ever 
receive that tribute to whicli it is entitled. It is not 
only just to the memory of the departed, but is bene- 
ficial to the living, enabling them to see that a 
useful and virtuous life has a hold upon our hearts, 
which no distinction based upon rank and wealth can 
confer. Death levels all artificial distinctions; but it 
does not subvert the nobility wliich is the fruit of a 
well spent life. The subject of this notice sought not 
fame. Pier object was to be useful in the sphere in 
which Providence had placed her; and that object she 
attained, by properly discharging the daily duties, 
which devolved upon her as a wife and mother. In 
these characters she was a model woman. If true 
honor consists in acting well the part which the great 



266 THE EARLY HISTOK\ OF 

Arbiter of events has assigned us, then did our de- 
parted friend achieve an elevated station among the 
truly worthy. The character of the true woman, 
drawn by inspiration, was exemplified in her life and 
illustrated by her virtues. — 'Her works praise her.' " 

He afterwards married Susan S. Fish by whom he 
had one child. When we add that he was tolerably 
successful as a physician, but that otherwise serious 
misfortunes' have marked his whole pathway and that 
for ten years he has been an invalid, is all that need 
be said. 

Martha was the fourth child. She became the 
wife of Hon. S. P. Johnson, of Warren, Pa. She had 
four children, three now living. She died in -June, 
1858. She was one of the most noble of women, best 
of wives, and affectionate of mothers. 

Charlotte, the fifth child, married Gilbert Dolloff 
Smith in 1844. He was the eldest son of Jesse Smith 
and the eldest daughter of Capt. Horatio Dix already 
mentioned. For many years Gilbert and Charlotte 
lived an unusually happy life and had one child. 

The major was taken prisoner in Tennessee dur- 
ing the late war, stripped of liis clothing even to his 
hat and boots, and marched naked to a southern 
prison pen and there died. The unjyleasantness was 
long ago settled and all is now peace and harmony — 
nevertheless it makes our blood boil when we remem- 
ber how our brothers were tortured and murdered by 
those southern fiends. The loss of the husband 
opened up a new life to the devoted wife. But she 
struggled through and educated her daughter, who 
married a man by tlie name of Galbraith, by whom 
she had three children. The mother was devoted to 
the daughter and the grandchildren, but the life was 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 267 

a sad one, I will sum it all up in one word — whiskey. 
The daughter died suddenly and the little famil}^ 
scattered. Charlotte took her youngest grand child, 
an infant, to care for. The broken-hearted woman was 
faithful, but the load was too great and the silver cord 
snapped. Before life ceased she was literally worn 
out. We were with her two hours before her death. 
She was elated with the prospect before her. She 
wanted to die; she had lived long enough. "Oh do 
not, talk to me about living, talk of death, of father 
and mother, of Gilbert and of Lottie; they are at rest; 
let me go to them and enjoy the bliss of rest." 
Nothing is more certain in this world, tlian tluit the 
rain falls on the just and the unjust. Calamities fall 
not alone on those who, as it were, brought them upon 
themselves and who deserve them, but upon the noble 
and the good, those who seemingly deserved, a better 
fate. Surely the ways of the Almighty are past find- 
ing out. 

Ricliard Flagler Hazeltine married Jane, the 
youngest daughter of Nicholas Sherman, an early set- 
tler of Busti. He is now a resident of Jamestown. 
The present Dr. Laban Hazeltine of our city is liis sec- 
ond son. 

If we said anything about the family of Laban 
Hazeltine M'e could not say less, neither is more re- 
quirec,!. 

Content, his wife, survived him many years, and 
died literally of old age, aged 93. 

Before the coming of Dr. Hazeltine to Jamestown 
Judge Prendergast, assisted by one of the best of wo- 
men, his wife. Aunt Nancy, as every one loved to call 
her, was the successful and faithful physician of the 
people. With considerable knowledge of disease and 



268 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

of remedies, his sterlino- good judgment made him a 
skillful and successful physician. From the first set- 
tlement up to November 9, 1815, there was not a single 
death at the Rapids. The reguar physician came be- 
fore the skeleton with a scythe. But we will defer this 
part of the subject until we come to speak of Burial 
Grounds and Cemeteries. 

Dr. Foote at first used to declare that he intended 
to go to the Western Reserve, but soon made the ac- 
quaintance of Miss Annie Cheney, daughter of Ebenezer 
Cheney, Esq., whom he married. She was the mother 
of his children although he was three times married. 
Dr. Foote removed to New Haven, Connecticut, about 
1842, and continued there to reside until his death. 

Not long after the settlement of Hazcltine and 
Foote in Jamestown, a poor, ragged, dirty old man 
named Smith came to Busti. He always traveled on 
foot; in warm weather barefooted or with his feet en- 
cased in a rude kind of moccasin, and with a dirty two- 
bushel canvas grain bag thrown over his shoulder, 
containing the roots and herbs used by him in the sick 
room. 

One of the Owens's who lived at what now is known 
as Fentonville, was taken violently ill with some deep- 
seated difficulty of the throat. Dr. Foote was called, and 
after making a second visit found him in so dangerous a 
condition that he asked to have Dr. Hazeltine see the 
patient with him the next day. Both of the learned 
doctors gave it as their opinion that there would be one 
Owens less in the Conewango valley within two or 
three days ; that they could do notliing for him. A 
messenger was immediately dispatched to Busti for 
Smith. He was found considerably under the influ- 
ence of corn juice, but with some assistance was seated 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 269 

on the horse whicli was led all the way toOwens's — 13 
miles as the roads then were. Arriving there Smith 
was quite sober, but the bag of medicines had been left 
behind. Smith examined his patient and then started 
for the woods near by for his remedies. He soon re- 
turned with a basketful of stuff, but as he passed the 
pig pen he picked up something which he carried in 
and very privately mixed up in water and worried it 
down the patient's throat. The dose made Ow^ens 
alarmingly sick and he w^as momentarily expected to 
die. Owens's brother, who went with Smith to the 
woods and had witnessed the whole transaction, swore 
dire vengeance on Smith, who became so alarmed that 
he decamped unnoticed. Presently Owens vomited 
most fearfully, and in doing so rujitured the walls of a 
large abcess near the base of the neck which pressed on 
the wind pipe and esophagus. Immediately he could 
breathe easily, could sw-allow witliout difhculty and 
talk. Foote and Hazeltine were most roundly berated 

for their d nd ignorance and stupidity and Smith 

lauded as one of the greatest of doctors, but poor Smith 
was not there to hear. Half frightened to death, he hid 
himself away in the woods, and it was only after acci- 
dentally hearing what a great man he had become that 
he ventured home. Owens was soon well. After learn- 
ing the truth of the matter he was accustomed to say 
he was glad he sent for Smith for he believed it even- 
tuated in the saving of his life; but that lightning 
seldom struck twice in the same place; that he wanted 
nothing more of the fiUhy old fellow and his still more 
filthy medicine, 

Hazeltine and Foote were for many years the only 
physicians in Jamestown. Occasionally a physician 
would come in and remain a few weeks or months and 



270 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

then would pass along. They were the only regular 
physicians here to remain long. Previous to 1849, oc- 
casionally one came in and soon sought better loca- 
tions. 



Dr. Samuel Footk studied medicine in the office 
of his l)rother E. T. Foote, in Jamestown, and at an 
early day practiced as an assistant to his brother. He 
left the profession for several years and engaged in 
lumbering and other mill operations at Waterboro, a 
couple of miles beyond Kennedy. He afterwards re- 
turned to Jamestown and bought of James Harrison 
his unfinished house, where the residence of the late 
Mrs. A. F. Allen now stands, which he partially fin- 
ished and in which he resided for several years, prac- 
ticing medicine. He afterwards removed to Louisiana 
where his only son resided, and remained several years. 
He again returned to Jamestown a widower and alone 
and resided for two or three years in a small house on 
the southwest corner of Pine and Third streets, now 
occupied by Bradshaw's feed store. On the morning 
of 7th May, 1856, there was a meeting of the medical 
society of Southwestern Nevv York at the Allen house. 
One of the members proposed that some one should go 
up and see why Dr. Foote was not down. Dr. Gibbs 
of Frewsburg went and found Dr. Foote dead, sitting 
in his chair. The writer had called less than half an 
hour previous and found him cheerful and expressing 
himself as feeling so well that he believed he should 
attend the medical meeting. His death had been so 
instantaneous that his spectacles had not fallen from 
his eyes or the book he was reading from his hand. 
Cause of death, rupture of the heart. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 271 

Dr. Henry Sargent settled at an early day at 
Siiiclairville. He afterwards removed to Sears's, now 
Kiantoiie, and practiced there for several years, Pie 
finally removed to Warren, Pa., and had a lucrative 
practice for years. He, like Dr. Foote, died suddenly. 



Dr. Cheney for several years lived near Nelson 
Cheney's of whom he was probably a relative. What 
became of him we are not informed. 



Dr. Cornelius Ormes was induced by friends liv- 
ing in Panama to come and be their physician, I think 
in the year 1833. On his first arrival there, after see- 
ing what a wilderness country it was and how few 
inhabitants there were "to be sick and die that a phy- 
sician might live," the writer well remembers his say- 
ing to the late Dr. Hazeltine, "I shall not remain there 
long;" and probably he would not have remained had 
he not made the acquaintance of Miss Angeline Moore, 
who acted as a lodestone to prevent his departure. He 
remained a year and a half in a state of great uncer- 
tainty, longing to depart but finding it exceedingly 
pleasant to remain; but love prevailed over self inter- 
est and ambition, and he married Miss Moore in 1835. 
The result was that he remained in Panama over thirty 
years in the successful practice of his profession. Four 
children were born to Dr. Ormes ; his eldest son Fran- 
cis D. Ormes is now,a physician in Jamestown. Several 
years ago the writer had a conversation with the elder 
Dr. Ormes, chiefly about the early days of the profes- 
sion in soutliern Chautauqua. He said, "Doctor, this 
was a fearfully hard country to do business in; it is an 
old saying that 'there is more pleasure in giving than 
receiving,' and as I think this applies especially to 



272 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

kicks, medicines and advice I remained in Panama." 
Dr. Ormes removed from Panama to Jamestown in 
1863, where lie continued in the active duties of the 
profession up to a short time before his death. He 
died at liis residence in Jamestown April 20, 1886, aged 
79 years. 



Dr. AVilliam P. Proudfit came to Jamestown to 
reside in January, 1832. He was a thoroughly edu- 
cated physician, active and ambitious. He had not 
been here long before he declared that it was no place 
for him or for any other young man who desired to 
make more than a bare living. He said, "There is 
plenty of land to the acre here, but there are but few 
men to the acre, and not sufficient sickness among them 
to support the physicians previously on the ground. 
I shall get away just as soon as I can find a place. 
But he made the acquaintance of Elmer Freeman's 
second daughter, Maria, and as usual in such cases, 
this caused a delay, but not long. He married Maria 
Freeman in November of that year, and not long after, 
I think the next season, he removed to Milwaukee, 
which just at that time was becoming an important, 
place. A few years later, (1843) he died while yet a 
young man. Wm. H. Proudfit, our successful "big 33" 
clothing man, is the only son of Dr. Proudtit. An 
anecdote of the doctor, his old friends, we presume, will 
never forget. A woman in a neighboring town noted 
for her volubility and for alwaj^s thinking she was sick, 
had almost pestered the life out of the other village 
doctors. One of them seeing her coming, told his stu- 
dent to send her to Proudfit, and hid himself in the 
back office. She had never heard of the new doctor 
and was well pleased to go. She was scarcely within 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 273 

the door when her tongue commenced running: "Doc- 
tor, I want YOU to prescribe for me." The doctor made 
a few inquiries and felt her pulse and said; " Madam, 
I think there is nothing the matter ; you onl}^ need 
rest." Her tongue started and she used up half an 
hour in telling the doctor about her aches and pains, 
where she went to meeting, what her neighbors said, 
where she bought her sugar and tea, what her husband 
said, what medicine she had taken, what the other 
doctors said, etc., etc. Proudfit got uneasy and began 
to pace up and down the office and finally said, 
"Madam, I am in a liurry; I cannot wait longer." 
"Wish you would not be in a hurr}^ 1 wish to tell you 
how I feel now, and how I have felt during the past 
week." The doctor put on his hat and partly opened 
the door. "Well, if you can't stay, look at my tongue, 
do look at my tongue, and give me something to take; 
just look at my tongue! look at it! Now, say, wliat 
does that need ?" The doctor looked at it. " Madam, 
I think that needs rest, too." " You do, you puppy," 
and greatly excited she raised her umbrella. Proudfit 
clutched his hat and left on the double quick, and did 
not stop until safely in Freeman's house and cosily 
seated by Maria. "What is the matter. Doctor; you 
appear excited ?" "Nothing, nothing. Yes, a. little 
sometliing. Perhaps I am a trifle excited. I have 
just seen a woman's tongue." 



Dii. Stephen I. Browx, not far from 18S0, settled 
in Busti. Brown was a genius. His countenance 
always reminded us of the pictures which have been 
given of Oliver Goldsmith, and we apprehend that the 
two men had many characteristics in common. Brown 
was well read as a physician and a good practitioner. 



274 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

but he preferred law to medicine, and we are informed 
by a lawyer and a judge who was well acquainted with 
Brown and who ought to know, that he had a thor- 
oughly legal mind, a fine knowledge of law, and might 
have made an eminent lawyer. Brown was intemper- 
ate. It became necessary to amputate one of his legs 
on account of destructive disease in the foot and ankle. 
But age, assisted by intemperance and disease, had not 
left enough to insure the healing of the wound, and lie 
died from its effects. 



Dr. Odin Benedict was not only a physician but 
a prominent man in Chautauqua county for many 
years, settled in the town of Ellery in the year 1826, 
and was the first resident physician in that town. He 
immediately took high rank as a physician, and in the 
management of the affairs of the country. Soon after he 
came into the county he married a Miss Copp of Ellery, 
He had one son, Wm. C. Bendict, at the present time one 
of the prominent men of his native town. Willis Ben- 
edict, a prominent lawj^er in our city, is a grandson of Dr. 
Benedict. Dr. Benedict was for many years supervisor 
of the town, and twice was sent to the state legislature, 
and for several of the last years of his life was presi- 
dent of a bank in Dunkirk. He died in 1874. 



From about 1830 the country gradually filled up 
with physicians, as it increased in population; in fact, 
to the older physicians, this increase appeared to be far 
more rapid than the needs of the country required and 
mifch to the detriment of the'community as well as the 
physician. Where previously a single professional 
visit was considered necessary, half a dozen became 
the rule. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 275 

Daring the earlier years of this county's history, 
the practice of medicine was among the most laborious 
and fatigueing of pursuits. The roads were few and 
almost impassable; the traveling was entirely on horse- 
back and mostly on old Indian trails, and the wilder- 
ness was full of howling wolves and screeching pan- 
thers. When a boy we have listened by the hour to the 
recital of adventures in the deep forests of those days, 
of Dr. Foote, Dr. Hazeltine, and others with the wild 
animals of the woods. And we well remember tliat in 
their opinion they were not so much to be dreaded as 
most people imagined; that they seldom attacked a 
man if they had a cliance to get away, except when 
famished by extreme hunger. Panthers were seldom 
seen and probably were not numerous. The bear was 
considered the really dangerous animal in our forests. 
The doctors were frequently overtaken by the dark- 
ness when pursuing these paths or trails, and when 
miles distant from any road or habitation, and when 
their intelligent horses would stand still and refuse to 
go farther. They would then tie their horses to the 
nearest sapling and build a fire near some large tree ; 
seat themselves at its roots and place their saddles and 
saddle blankets over their legs for protection. So 
wearied were they that frequently the}^ would sleep 
soundly, although the last sounds that saluted their 
ears were the deep howl of the wolf, the wail of the 
panther or the lynx, or the screech of tlie owl and the 
various noises of a well inhabited forest. 

We shall always remember an instance related by 
Dr. P'oote as occurring in his experience not far from 
what we now call Levant, in what was then known as 
the Mudd neighborhood, in which the wolves came 
so near that he struck one over the head with his 



276 thp: eaely history of 

heavy riding whip; and of their sudden leaving in an- 
swer to a call from some other portion of the woods; of 
his climbing into a low hemlock tree; of his hearing 
the barking of a dog in the early morning and finding 
himself but a few^ rods from a log house wdiere he found 
his horse which had broken loose and gone away dur- 
ing his scrimmage with the w^olves. 

During the first years, Dr. Hazeltine generally 
traveled with a small dog who he considered an 
almost infallible protection, and who on more than one 
occasion piloted him out of the woods. He found that 
his horse would readily follow the dog in the woods on 
a dark night, when he would hot move a single step 
without him. In traveling tliese primitive woods the 
great danger consisted in leaving the old, well beaten 
trail to go around a wind-fall, or to seek a more prom- 
ising place to ford a stream, or foolishly thinking they 
could take a more direct course to the place they de- 
sired to reach. .To leave the trail was generally a prep- 
aration for spending a night in the forest. Physicians 
frequently took rides that required two or three days to 
accomplish. Dr. Hazeltine frequent!}^ went to Warren 
and below, and on several occasions as far from home 
as to Franklin, Pa. It now seems almost impossible 
that any one could or w^ould endure the hardships and 
dangers and privations which were the common lot of 
physicians when the country was a wilderness, and 
when the pay received for their services would not 
equal that received by a sawyer in one of the mills. 
If any class of human beings wIjo have ever lived de- 
served the gratitude of their fellows and liberal pen- 
sions for benefits gratuitously bestowed, it was the pio- 
neer physicians of southern Chautauqua. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 277 

DRUGS AND MEDICINES, 

For many j^ears the only medicines kept for sale 
in the village of Jamestown was at the pharmacies of 
Drs. Foote and Hazeltine which w^ere kept in rooms in 
their residences. These pharmacies were adequate to 
supply all the ordinary needs of the country at that 
time, and were the sources of much profit to their own- 
ers, Dr, Hazeltine's pharmacy was much the larger 
and the one mostly patronized up to 1829, when Dr. 
Foote became postmaster. He then built a long, one- 
story building on Main street, 16x40, on the south por- 
tion of the lot now occupied by Proudfit's clothing 
store. Barrett & Baker's store was the next building 
north, and between the two was a 12-foot passage way 
to the store house back of the stores. Foote succeeded 
Hazeltine as postmaster and removed the postofiice to 
the back end of this building, using the front of it, it 
might be said, as the first drug store in Jamestown. 
In this he was succeeded first by Smith Seymour, a 
brother-in-law, and afterwards by Joseph Kenyon; both 
in turn became postmaster. After the Hall block was 
built on the north side of Third street, the store next 
to Potter's alley was occupied b}^ .John S. Yates, the 
father of Henry Yates, Esq., and by J. Elliott Chapin, 
(both sons-in-law of Solomon Jones) as a drug store. 
Yates previously had studied medicine in Dr. Foote's 
office, but circumstances prevented his becoming a 
physician. CJhapin was the first and for several years 
the teacher of the district school in the lower room of 
The Academy after its removal to the corner of Cherry 
and Fourth streets. For manyyears he was a minister 
of the Methodist church, but is now, I think, superan- 
nuated. During the summer Chapin and his wife 
occupy their fine cottage at Chautauqua, and no one 



378 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

appears to enjoy its great privileges more than they, 
Yates and Chapin sold out to Kenyon, and he moved 
the postoffice to that store in the fall of 1838. Nathan 
Sears about that time opened a drug and book store in 
the Plumb store where Scofield & Go's store now 
stands. The wa-iter very distinctly remembers the 
commencement of Sears in business; for he traded with 
him his favorite gun "Old Kill Deer" for the first set of 
Waverly Novels, in twenty double volumes, that were 
ever brought to Jamestown. A year or so previously 
Russell D. Shaw started a drug store in a small build- 
ing just above Fenner's shoe store. Russell D. Shaw 
was afterward succeeded by his brother, Warner D. 
Shaw, who later was for many j^ears proprietor of 
Shawn's hotel. These were the only drug stores previ- 
ous to 1844 when Parsons of Westfield (Chauncey C. 
Burtch) bought out Kenyon who was then located on 
the northeast corner of Main and Third streets, and G. 
W. Hazeltine, (D. T. Brown & Co.,) opened a drug and 
book store in the Allen house on Main street in what 
would be now the southwest corner of the Gifford block 
occupied by Marble Hall. 

The present is a good occasion to compare rents 
on Main street betAveen the present and forty-two years 
ago. The store occupied was in an excellent brick 
building erected tM'o years previous by A. F. and D. 
Allen, and then known as the Allen house. The store 
mentioned above as occupied by I). T. Brown & Co., 
was twenty-four feet wide, seventy-five feet deep, and 
fourteen feet from the floor to ceiling, with extra 
counters and shelving together with a light, airy cellar 
with a permanent floor, ten feet longer than the store. 
For this store the writer took a five-year's lease at $75 
a year. At that time we think the rent of any other 
! tore in town must have been less, for this w-as the best 
room for a store at that time in town. 



CHAPTER XI, 

Human Life an Allegory — Inn of Court — Volun- 
teers IN 1861 — Jamestown's Patriotism — Sam- 
uel A. Brown — Abner Hazeltine — E. F, War- 
ren — Lorenzo Morris — Geo. W. Tew — R. P. 
Marvin — Joseph Waite — Franklin H. Waite 
Madison Burnell — Orsell Cook. 

hitman life — AN ALLEGORY. 

History, be it of a community, or more preten- 
tious and important, as of a state or an empire— is but 
the history of human life — the actors being the same, 
varying only as to the high stations some have been 
called to occupy during their earthly career. The 
history of the lesser personages will be read by an in- 
terested few, the most important of these only, follow- 
ing the same rule that governs the history of larger 
communities, of states and of empires. The conduct 
and the consequent station held, is truly the subject of 
history and not the human life in which it is devel- 
oped. And conduct, Matthew Arnold declares is two- 
thirds of human life. If this is even an approach to 
truth, of what vast importance is the healthy growth 
and right education not only to the individual but to 
the community, the state and the world. 



280 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

We have somewhere read an allegory, in which 
human life was likened to a journey over a hill, the 
sides of which are more or less precipitous, the ascent 
rugged and uneven, with pleasant looking groves con- 
stantly in sight but not quite on the beaten path the 
youthful traveler is advised and' expected to take. In 
these groves are seen lovely forms dancing to strains 
of sweetest music, or reclining on beds of flowers, and 
drinking from crystal cups a fluid, golden, or with the 
deepest hues of the dark-red rose. The guides who are 
to attend the company just setting out warn those in 
their charge against these apparently beautiful groves 
and point them to a beautiful castle on the brow 
above. That they should bend all of their energies 
towards reaching that edifice. It was true their route 
in portions of the way was somewhat rough and in no 
part quite as inviting in appearance as about these 
groves which were scattered along the entire distance, 
but that from the castle of Good Conduct all of the 
most desirable routes over the plain of human life be- 
yond, commenced; that those who took the pleasant 
looking paths through the groves seldom arrived at 
the castle and were obliged to travel less desirable 
routes over the plain, and which led to very undesir- 
able places on the other side from which to make their 
descent into the city of Monuments. 

The party of which we were one, listened with lit- 
tle attention to what the guides said to us. We were 
impatient to commence the real work of life, we 
longed to be free from the sweet restraints in the flow- 
ery grove of infancy and childhood where a loving 
mother and a doting father had so far watched over 
us. Where every want had been supplied, where every 
pure desire satisfied. We made a hasty visit to the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 281 

nursery to kiss good bye to our infant brothers and sis- 
ters, crawling on beds of violets, or sleeping on pillows 
of roses. They bad just entered into human life, and 
they smiled the joy of their new-born existence. True 
many of them wept and wailed, but their weeping was 
of short duration; — the presentation of a single flower, 
would cause a smile in the midst of tlieir tears, so that 
nothing was more common than to see two tears 
standing like pearl drops on their eye lids or trickling 
down cheeks filled with dimples and smiles. We 
were delighted, and for a moment inclined to tarry and 
play with these new-born humans, which raised in 
our minds the idea of angels and cherubs, and we 
called them such, and we thought we heard a voice, 
seemingly in the clouds, saying, "Of such is the King- 
dom of Heaven," and then the thought came to us, 
that the more we retained and carried with us of this 
scene, the happier and more successful would be our 
journe3\ 

We passed along and although daily admonished 
by our guides, found ourselves wandering contin- 
ually to the pleasant paths in the groves. Not unfre- 
quently we found ourselves in thickets of thistles 
and nettles. But these errors are not always irretriev- 
able, although they leave iiidellible marks and in- 
fluence the future. After numerous accidents by the 
way, we were among the few that arrived at the cas- 
tle and finally with many admonitions Vjy the keep- 
ers in charge was allowed to enter. Here we were 
thoroughly schooled as to the dangers of tlie plain, 
the hidden pitfalls, the sloughs and the quicksands* 
the thickets of thorns and the rocks and the precipices. 
The best routes were plainly in view and thoroughly 
explained. The guides who came with us up to the 



282 THE EARLY IIISTOKY OF 

plain were to attend us no lono^cr, but guide books 
were placed in our hands and it was said to us. if we 
followed their direction we would have no difficulty. 
We advanced with eagerness, studied our guide books 
faithfully and for a time followed their direction. 
But some of the views we deemed old fogyish and we 
were quite certain that some more modern guides had 
pointed out more pleasant, more direct and less diffi- 
cult paths. We found ourselves continually exploring 
these new ways. We deviated without scruple from 
the old paths, to whicii but few faithfully adhered; 
and what greatly encouraged us was the fact that the 
best, the most gifted, and liighest intelligences, who 
started with us at the nurser}^ were with us at the 
castle of Good Conduct and were witli us now. Finally 
we concluded not to return to the old paths at all, al- 
though we were continually coming to paths which 
led to them. The most of us passed on, each by paths of 
his own choosing, for of these by-paths there were 
many; those we chose w^e found beset by many diffi- 
culties and dangers. The pitfalls were so many that 
more than once we stumbled into one, receiving ser- 
ious injuries, and tin ally became so maimed that we 
have traveled along on crutches ever since. Indeed, 
on that part of the route in which the traveler is most 
prone to travel in by-paths, the dangers and difficul- 
ties are the greatest. We saw the beauty of the flow- 
ers, we heard the music of the birds, and all nature 
appeared full of delight, but instead of plucking the 
modest sweet scented flowers in the best cultivated 
gardens, we wandered into the fields and forests and 
plucked the gaudy, scentless, poisonous, deadly night- 
shade, and the purple belladonna and the red and 
golden poppy. The music of the songsters of the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 283 

grove o-ave place to the croak of the ill-boding crow 
and the screech of tlie owl. The sky became over- 
cast with clouds, obscuring the bright sun by day 
and through which the bright stars refused to twinkle 
by night. AVhen we attempted to return we found 
that Me could not find the way; our faces became 
clouded with weariness and care. Weary, footsore and 
crippled, we commenced the descent. From time to 
time we saw our companions fall into the pitfalls 
which abound in the down hill side of life; they were 
so weak and feeble and maimed that they made no 
attempt to get out and there perished. As w^e passed 
along in diminished numbers we beheld many de- 
lightful scenes, beautiful gardens, delightful song 
birds, but there appeared to be a gulf difficult of pas- 
sage, and we did not attempt it, although we saw 
many old friends who traveled with us up the hill and 
over part of the plain on the top beckoning to us with 
great solicitude aiid we could hear their voices saying, 
"Come over here; here we have plenty to eat and to 
drink and to wear; everything is delightful, the flow- 
ers never fairer, the music of the birds never so sweet. 
It is not as difficult to pass through that gulf as it 
seems, and we have a doctor over here who will cure 
your wounds and relieve you of your crutches." We 
consult-our companions. They are too weary and too 
much crippled to make the attempt, and beg of us not 
to leave tliem. They gather around and bind heavy 
weights on our limbs and even take away the crutches 
on which we had depended. We continued to de- 
scend, crawling as best we could. We have not kept 
up with our companions; most of them have reached 
the foot of the hill. We do not see them, but we see 
beautiful quiet groves in which arise here and there 



284 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

equally beautiful spires and white marble structures 
which mark, we presume, their quiet homes. We are 
nearh' down, will soon be there and equally quiet. Is 
not this a true picture in a majority of cases of human 
life and human destiny? Let every one who reads, re- 
flect, and make application for himself. 
OUR country's defenders. 
We had a much occupied buildint]^, which filled a 
space of about 20x;]0 feet on the southwest corner of 
Third street and Mechanic's alley. It was a two-story 
building with a basement, painted white. This, to- 
gether with Waite's stone law office which stood 
directly west of it, disappeared about twenty-tive years 
ago in tlie same wa}'^ that so many of Jamestown's early 
buildings disappeared — in fire and smoke; the location 
of these and other early time buildings is now covered 
by the Sherman House. James Harrison erected the 
building in 1828 for his watch repairing and jewelry 
establishment. In 1831 it came into the possession of 
Wood & Curtis as a boot and shoe store, and not long 
afterwards was used for Lathrop's hat shop. After 
Lathrop ceased business C. W. Jackson used the lower 
rooms for gun repairing, and for finishing up house 
bells, and the basement as a bell foundry ; the upper 
rooms were used as a printing office, for the Under- 
current, the Liberty Star and the Jamestown Herald. 
After Jackson vacated the building, the lower story and 
basement were for a year or more used in a variety of . 
ways, and b}^ various persons. Finally the building 
was purchased by the Hon. R. P., Marvin, and the 
occupancy of it fell to the lawyers. It became a sort of 
lawyers' headquarters for a time — an Inn of Court, as 
it would be termed in London. Among the lawyers 
occupying this building at the same time was the Hon. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 285 

R. P. Marvin, who then was judge of the Supreme 
court and occupied the back rooms; Madison Burnell, 
Capt. James M. Brown, (afterwards Col. James M. 
Brown, killed at Fair Oaks,) John F. SmiMi, (after- 
wards Col. Smith, killed at Fort Fisher) and others, 
and a number of law students. It was a busy place, 
and withal a patriotic place, at the breaking out of the 
late war. The Judge sent two sons to the country's 
defence- — ^William was a sacrifice upon that bloody 
altar, the other is the present Gen. Selden E. Marvin 
of Albany. Burnell became the celebrated home ora- 
tor, urging the able bodied man to shoulder his 
musket and march forthwith to the front. Capt. 
Brown at the first alarm raised Jamestown's celebrated 
Co. B, and was among the- first to report for action; he 
soon became Colonel of the 100th regiment of N. Y, 
Inffintry; the last he was ever seen he stood on a stump 
on the battle field of Fair Oaks, waving his sword, for- 
saken by his men. As he was not mounted he prob- 
ably was fatally wounded at that time. His body re- 
turned to mother earth on A'irginia soil. John F. 
Suiith, as soon as he could arrange his business, also 
raised a company and followed his partner Brown to 
the field. He fell leading his men to the desperate 
charge of Fort Fisher. As he sat on the ground sur- 
rounded b}' his officers he predicted that he would be 
killed that day. His body came back wrapped in his 
country's flag, and rests in the peaceful shades of Lake 
View cemetery. Col. John F. Smith and his brotlier 
Capt. Hiram N. Smith, and the captain's two sons Mil- 
ton and William, sleep side by side. Brave men ! 
Such were the ones that Ellicott sent to her country's 
defence. 

An act of heroism of Capt. Hiram Smith should 



286 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

be recorded. After a battle (Williamsburg, I think) 
his son Milton who belonged to the same regiment, 
was not among those mustered after the battle. Smith 
knew he was either killed or wounded. After mid- 
night lie went alone over that gloomy battle field, 
guided by the sickly light of the moon ; he beheld 
the outstretched forms of the dead and heard moans 
and groans of the dying. Every few paces he halted 
and called, "Milton ! Milton!" Finally his call was 
met by the feeble response of "Here I am father; I am 
shot, I cannot get up." He was fatally wounded. 
Smith took his wounded, dying son in his arms and 
conveyed him to the hospital, where he soon expired^ 
It was at a time when leave of absence, and more 
especially transportation, were with great difhculty to 
be procured. Gapt. Smith wasfurloughed for ten days 
to go home and bury his son. But there was no trans- 
portation. Smith took letters from the Colonel and 
General, ivrij^ijed his dc'id son in his llanket, and went 
aboard a boat at Fortress Monroe. The Uvivg and the 
dead, hanked together until they arrived at Jjaltiniore ; 
there a coihn was procured and the next day Smith 
and his dead child were in Jamestown. His telegram 
had been received and everything was in readiness. 
The burial was the next morning, and the day after 
Smith was on liis way back to the Peninsula. These 
are the bare facts. Such were the men who defended 
us in the great war of the Rebellion. 

We would have the memory of tliis lowly building- 
embalmed in the remembrance of every citizen as the 
headquarters of patriotism and love of country in 
Jamestown, in 1801. There the old man gave up his 
sons and younger men their homes, their wives and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 387 

children, to become sacrifices on the altar of their 
country's needs. 

SAMUEL A. BROWN. 

Hon. Samuel A. Brown was the first lawyer to 
settle in Jamestown. He was the son of Col. Daniel 
Brown of Connecticut. When but eighteen years of 
age he left his home and came west 1o his brother's, 
who was a lawyer in Otsego county in this state, and 
with whom he studied law. He left his brother's house 
in the summer of 1816 on horseback, and after travel- 
ing as far west as Painesville, Ohio, viewing the country 
and forecasting its future prospects, he returned to this 
■state. Meeting Jacob Houghton, Esq., at the Cross 
Roads he was induced to ride over to the rapids, which 
at that time was beginning to be known by its new 
name of Jamestown. He arrived here in November, 
and after consulting with .Judge Prendergast, Dr. Ha- 
zeltine and Abner Hazeltine, who was then studying 
law under Houghton, and Edward Work, lie concluded 
to prepare for examination in Hougliton's office, and 
to apply for admission as an attorney at the coming 
common pleas of Chautauqua. He boarded at Dish- 
er's tavern, and opened an office in the northeast cor- 
ner of a new unfinished building on the southwest cor- 
ner of Main and Third streets. 

In March, 1819, Mr. Brown married Prudence 0. 
daughter of Capt. Cotes of Otsego county. Capt. Cotes 
resided in the same village in which Brown had studied 
law with his brother. He soon returned with his wife 
and that season erected a low, one-story building with 
a front and backroom on the ground now occupied by 
the store built by Dr. Simons on Main street, next to 
the Ormes residence. In the back room of this office 
Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived for several months after their 



288 THE EARLY HISTORY OF ' 

marriage, and boarded a portion of the mechanics en- 
gaged in building their house, which was located 
where the Ormes residence now stands. 

Mrs. Brown did her cooking by the side of a big 
oak stump back of the office, over which a slight shel- 
ter of boards had been placed. This stump was stand- 
ing long after the writer's remembrance, Mr. Brown 
preserving it as a memento of the past, and was very 
fond of showing it to his friends as Mrs. Brown's first 
kitchen. In fair weather Mrs. Brown was accustomed 
to set her table for her boarders by tlie side of the 
stump on a platform over which a shelter of boards 
had been placed. Brown in after years in showing his 
friends the limited accommodations of his early house- 
keeping was accustomed to say: " Well and then, gen- 
tlemen and ladies, I can assure you we had ample ac- 
commodations, plenty of room — especially in Mrs. 
Brown's dinln' roovi, and latching. We slept in the 
back roomof the ojjis, 10x20; it contained besides our 
bed all of our furniture, but the room was ample." 

In 182S he was appointed district attorney for the 
county and held the office up to 18£8. In 1826 he be- 
came agent for the ''Cherry Valley Land Co.", who 
owned a large tract of land in tlie eastern part of the 
county. For many years he paid to the soldiers of the 
Revolution their pensions. He was elected a member 
of Assembly in 1827 and again in 1845. In 1824 he 
lost the election by two votes to Nathan Mixer of the 
north part of the county. He was among the fore- 
most in all educational matters, and for many years an 
elder of the Presbyterian church. He was always fore- 
most in any business or plans for the advancement or 
care of the village. In 1829 Richard P. Marvin be- 
came his partner in business; Mr. Marvin retiring, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 289 

George W. Tew, who had studied law in his office, be- 
came his partner in 1831. Afterwards his three sons 
successively — 1st Charles C, 2d Theodore, and 3d, Le- 
vant were his partners. None of these sons are now 
living. The Ornies residence was built by Brown a 
few years before his death. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were 
among the very best of Jamestown's early residents. 
He was remarkable for his industry, perseverance and 
close attention to business. He was a strict adherent 
of Franklin s rule, -'Keep your plqce of business and it 
will keep you." 

Samuel A. Brown was a man of a remarkably 
cheerful temperament, quick and active mind, and 
appeared to great advantage as a conversationalist. 
He conversed without effort and without pretense, but 
with great humor and wit and with skillful adaptation 
to tlie tastes of his hearers. He was read}^ to converse 
on all subjects, whether well understood by him or 
not, and with all classes of persons. What he lacked 
in knowledge of the subject he made up in wit, and 
never lapsed into garrulity. He would engage in a 
grave discussion upon important subjects when th& 
occasion required, but he hated disputation and dog- 
matism and seldom failed to divert the current of argu- 
ment by some stroke of humor or quaint extravagance 
of remark. His more pointed and brilliant sayings 
should be preserved, although they could give but a 
faint reflection of his wit, and do imperfect justice to. 
tlie shrewdness, humor and good sense of his conver- 
sation. The humorous sayings of a lively, quick-wit- 
ted talker like Brown cannot be reproduced in print,, 
their point and delicacy are sure to be lost in the pro- 
cess; they sparkle only in the atmospliere in which 
they were produced. He was a keen observer of men 



290 THE EAllLY HISTOKY OF 

and often exposed the weaknesses and foibles of others 
with quick and pungent satire — sometimes not spar- 
ing liis best friends and associates; but there was no 
malice in his wit, nor any disposition to inflict a ser- 
ious wound. His sarcasms were sometimes apparently 
thoughtless, but never harsh or intentionally unkind, 
and he would go far to do a kind deed for those whose 
faults or peculiar position he had just visited with 
playful severity. Always pleasant and agreeable, and 
eminently social, his society was courted by all, and 
during his whole life he was always found among the 
foremost in all undertakings for the building up of 
the town and advancing the welfare of its citizens. 
From first to last more young men studied law' in 
Brown's office than in any other. Mr. Brown was a 
devoted and affectionate husband and father. He 
had a large family — eleven children in all, five of 
whom died in infancy or childhood. But three of tlie 
children are now living. Prudence Olivia Cotes, wife 
of S. A. Brown died in 1862. Samuel A. Brown died 
June 7, 1865, sincerely lamented by all who knew 
him. 



ABNER IIAZELTINE. 

Hon. Abner Hazeltine came to Jamestown in No- 
vember, 1815, taught school three seasons in James- 
town and studied law under Judge Houghton. In 
the summer of 1819 he was admitted as an attorney 
in the supreme court, and returned to Wardsboro, ^"er- 
mont and married Polly Kidder in September of that 
year. He returned in November and settled in War- 
ren, Pa. Three years afterwards he returned to 
Jamestown. A talented young lawyer named Shel- 
don Smith, had settled in Jamestown nearly two years 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 391 

previous, but his health, which had always been deli- 
cate, began to fail rapidly and he left the town and 
went to Bufilalo where for several years he stood in the 
front rank of tlie profession. Samuel A. Brown says 
of him in his History of the Town of Ellicott, that he 
was a man of talent and an able lawj^er. That when 
a resident here he amused himself and others in writ- 
ing humorous poetical effusions and still more humor- 
ous accounts of some of the crooked transactions that 
happened here at an early day, especialh^ those of the 
''Junto." The writer is now the owner of the papers 
spoken of by Mr. Brown, and although they deal in 
facts he has no desire to draw upon them for this His- 
tory. Sheldon Smith died in Buftalo, of consumption 
in 1836. The office vacated by Smith in the back end 
of the second story of Tiffany's store and which was 
reached from Second street by stairs on the outside at 
the east end, was soon occupied by Abner Hazeltine. 
He continued to practice law in Jamestown up to 
witliin a few days of his death, December 20, 1879. 
His first wife died October 14, 1832, leaving three 
children; the fourth died in childhood. Two years af- 
ter he married Matilda Hayward, who died April 1, 
1877, leaving three children all of whom are now liv- 
ing; of the first family two only are living at the pres- 
ent writing. Abner Hazeltine in 1828, also in 1829, 
was elected assemblyman of the state; in 1832, also in 
1834, he was elected member of congress. In. 1847 he 
was made district attorney for Chautauqua county, 
and in 1859 and 1873 was elected judge. He was one 
of the founders of the Congregational church in James- 
town in 1816, the first religious society formed in 
Jamestown. 

The following extracts from the proceedings of 



292 THE EARLY HISTOllY OF 

the Chautauqua Bar in reference to the Hon. Abner 
Hazehine, we take from a heavy document which 
would fill a dozen such papers as this, and it is all so 
true, without undue laudation, from the address of 
Judge Barker to the closing speech, that the writer 
would be pleased to give place to the whole as a trib- 
ute to one of the best of men. 

Mr, Jenkins says: "Mr. C'liairman, I knew Judge 
Hazeltine for a long number of years. There was a 
characteristic of his of which I wish to speak. In the 
younger days of my professional life I looked upon 
him as a model to be kept in view. If was one great 
characteristic of his life, that he read the law as a 
grand science worthy of the best efforts of his life. Who 
is there among you from Jamestown, who in going 
home late at night, have not noticed the flickering at 
the window of that tallow candle, without feeling 
aware that Abner Hazeltine was there and would be 
there until after midniglit, wrapt in deepest study, his 
brain teeming with the grandest thoughts, and with 
heart intent on the performance of dut}"? He was a 
model judge, and he had a heart full of sympathy and 
goodness. His intellect was trained to a higher and 
holier life b}" that industry the young meji might w^ell 
imitate. He stood out like the oak that had long 
withstood the blast of many winters and fell b}^ its 
own weight at last." 

Hon. Austin Smith, of Westfield, speaks of him 
as "one who has always distinguished himself as an 
honest and upright man in every position he has oc- 
cupied in life. As a member of the State Legislature, 
as a Member of Congress, as District Attorney, as 
Judge of Chautauqua county, and in all the varied re- 
lations of life." 



♦ THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 293 

Hon. Lorenzo Morris, of Fredonia, says : " That 
in any relation in which you could meet him, . either 
professionally or socially, you could never leave him 
without an admiration for him and without feeling 
you had been meeting a great, good and perfectly bal- 
anced man." 

Judge George Barker thanked the bar for invit- 
ing him to the chair on an occasion so important. 
" This meeting will be the most distinguished in our 
annals — for Abner Hazeltine was the oldest in years 
and practice of the lawyers of this county. His life 
has been so useful and so honorable, characterized by 
so many virtues, and at this bar so pre-eminent, and 
his departure dela3^ed to a period so far beyond the 
privilege of most men to live — so full of honors and so 
full of usefulness, that it is a pleasure, a sad one in- 
deed, to speak of his life and character on this occa- 
sion. And wdiatever may be spoken of him at this 
time by his brethren who survive him will be but 
speaking the sentiments of every citizen of this county. 
He was known to us and to every inhabitant. He 
outlived all his earliest associates in the profession, 
and I doubt not survived tlie first client he ever had. 
Judge Hazeltine enjoyed one advantage which all the 
members of the legal profession in this county did not 
have, and that was a collegiate education. This early 
education distinguislied his wliole life. I never heard 
him speak on any occasion to court or jury, to people 
or to fellow associates, without he expressed himself 
in the completest manner and with the most thorough 
diction." 

Many persons studied law in Abner Hazeltine's 
office. Prominent among them was — 

Hon. Abner Lewis, who afterwards was Member 



294 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

of Assembly in 1839 and Member of Congress from 
1847 to 1849, and County Judge in 1852. Soon after 
his term of office expired he emigrated to the west and 
there died a few years ago. 

Hon. Emory F. Warren studied hiw in tlie office 
of Hon. R. P. Marvin, and practiced law in Jamestown 
from in 1834 to 1846. He soon became a partner of 
Mr. Marvin's, and succeeded Abner Hazeltine as ed- 
itor of the Journal, and wrote a history of Chautauqua 
county, often referred to, and which was published by 
J. Warren Fletcher in 1846. In 1841 Mr. Burnell, who 
had studied law in the office of Marvin & Warren, be- 
came the partner of Mr. Marvin, Warren retiring and 
becoming the partner of Abner Hazeltine. In 1840 
Mr. Warren w^as appointed an Examiner in Chancery 
by Gov. Seward. He was elected a Member of Assem- 
bly in 1842 and 1843. In 1846 finding that his health 
was failing he removed to a farm in Stockton and took 
to agriculture. At the close of the same year his health 
was so improved that he concluded to resume the prac- 
tice of law at Sinclairville, where he continued until 
1856. He w^as appointed Postmaster in Sinclairville 
in 1849, and held that appointment for several years, 
In 1855 he w^as elected Surrogate of Chautauqua 
county, and the next year removed to Fredonia. In 
1859 he was appointed Commissioner in the Court of 
Claims at Washington. He held the office of Excise 
Commissioner for Chautauqua county from 1861 to 
1870. He was county Judge for six years ending in 
1877. We are not aware that at the present time the 
Judge holds any office — he is too old — yet we are in- 
formed in good health, goes to his office daily, and is 
as busy wdth his law books and papers as ever, al- 
though he has slipped into the seventh year of his 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 295 

eighth decade. What long Hves these honeat lawyers 
are permitted to enjoy. 

Judge Warren was born in Madison county in 
1810, and came \\\\\\ his father to this county to 
reside when a little more that eight years old. He 
was an old settler and dates back to 1819. He 
was made into a lawyer in Jamestown. Fredonia will 
probably take charge of his funeral services and fur- 
nish the usual memorials. 

Hon. Lorenzo Morris came from Madison county 
with his father to Chautauqua in 1829, when less than 
twelve years old. His early education was that of the 
common schools and Mayville academy. He read law, 
first with Judge Thomas A. Osborne in Mayville and 
afterwards with Orsell Cook in Jamestown. In 1841 
he w\as admitted, and became a partner of Judge 
Cook's. In 1844 he removed to Mayville, and in 1852 
to Fredonia where he has since lived, one of the prom- 
inent lawyers of the county and is still active in the 
'•'■lohereas,'''' '-' nevertheless,''' '■'• /lotin/'t/iMa/Kl ! n g""^ profession 
of his early choice. If as an advocate the mantle of 
Madison Burnell fell upon the shoulders of any com- 
peer, it will be found in the possession of Lorenzo 
Morris. LTnfortunately for his political preferment he 
has been an uncompromising Democrat, a very unfash- 
ionable kind of politics in this highly erilightened 
county, but exceedingly fortunate for his standing as a 
lawyer. The only accident that has broken in to lessen 
his high standing as a Counsellor and Advocate before 
a jury was his election in 1867 to the Senate of the 
state of New York by his fellow citizens, the Republi- 
cans of the district. We claim him as belonging on 
the south side of the ridge. 

Joseph Waite came from Vermont with wife and 



296 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

two children and all his worldly goods in a two-horse 
wagon, and settled on a small farm in the town of Car- 
roll in 1816. He moved to Jamestown in 1821, and 
commenced the studj"- of law after he was thirty-six 
years old. He became a successful lawyer and had a 
good practice up to 1854, when he emigrated to Wis- 
consin, where he died the next j^ear of apoplexy. He 
was atone time District Attorney for the county. He 
was a good specimen of a self-made man. His remains 
rest in Lake View cemetery by the side of Olive Davis 
his wife, who died in Jamestown, in 1851. 

Franklin H. Waite, the eldest son of Joseph 
Waite, studied law in his father's officfe and for several 
years was in company with his father. He was a young 
man of much promise. At one time he was Postmas- 
ter. He married Adeline, the eldest daughter of San- 
ford Holman, spoken of in a previous chapter. He was 
the oldest and leader of the boys of the village of the 
writer's set. He A'as our leader when w^e went to the 
swamp to cut red willows for horses, foremost in play- 
ing ball, captain in the duties of the crate. When the 
boys played at soldiers, Frank Waite was captain, 
Gust Allen was lieutenant, and the writer drummed 
on a quite peculiar drum that had been prepared for 
him. Rev. Dr. Hiram Eddy was the tallest and his 
brother, Rev. Dr. Zack Eddy, next tallest of the high 
privates. Dasc. (Dascum Allen) would not train be- 
cause he could not be captain. Many years ago Waite 
sought a larger field in the west. At Mankato, in 
Minnesota, he became a judge of the courts, and at the 
time of his 'death was a very important man in that 
region of the country. 

Hon. Geo. W. Tew read law in S. A. Brown's 
office and became his partner in 1831. Mr. Tew came 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 297 

to Jamestown in 1825 and opened a shop for the man- 
ufacture of tin and sheet iron ware, in the building 
north of Shaw's hotel, already spoken of as Noah's 
Ark. He was elected County Clerk in 1834, and re- 
moved to Mayville and never returned to Jamestown 
to reside. He was again elected County Clerk m 1837. 
In 1841 he became Cashier of the bank of Silver Creek 
and removed from Mayville to that place. He after- 
wards became President of the bank and continued to 
reside in Silver Creek as long as he lived. Just before 
his removal to Jamestown in 1825 he married Mary D. 
Alger, by whom he had four children, one dying in 
infancy. In 1840 he married Mrs. Caroline Reynolds, 
by whom he had three children. His two sons, G. W. 
Tew and Willis Tew, are now residents of Jamestown, 
the one president and the other vice president of the 
City National bank. 

Judge Richakd P. Marvin, Esq., came to James- 
town in 1829. From the first he has been one of 
Jamestown's prominent men and one of the leading 
lawyers of the county and of western New York. It 
may be truly said of him, he was the originator of 
the N. Y. & Erie railroad. He frequently spoke of the 
feasibility and the necessity of this road to his friends, 
not only in Jamestown but in various parts of the state, 
long before the project took form, and to his constantly 
keeping it before the public is due the first commence- 
ment of this great road. Notwithstanding his studious 
habits and close application to the duties of his profes- 
sion, he was a great favorite among the j^oung people 
of Jamestown. In the fall of 1834 he married Isabella 
Newland of Albany, a sister of Robert Newland of our 
city. He was a member of congress for four years from 
1837 to 1841. In 1847 he was elected judge of the 



298 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Eighth judicial district, which office he held by re- 
elections for nearly twenty-five years and until he 
reached the age by which he was incapacitated by law,, 
and that was many years ago. No man walks our 
streets standing more erect than the Judge. No man 
is more interested and busy, planning for the present 
and future welfare of our city than the Judge. No 
man is more regularly in liis office, busily engaged in 
preparing im23ortant law papers than Judge Richard 
P. Marvin. 

We have been urged to give a fuller mention to 
Judge Marvin, and intended to do so and had 
written a long article in addition to the above, but 
have concluded to lay it aside. The Judge is yet liv- 
ing, hale and healthy, and quite as good looking as 
sixty years ago, notwithstanding he has for several 
years been an octogenarian. We hope ho will live to 
be one hundred years old, and we believe he will. It 
is not for us to write the biography of this great minded, 
active, busy old man. 

Judge Orsell Cook commenced the study of law 
in Brown & Tew's office near the same time Madison 
Burnell commenced in the office of Marvin & Warren. 
In due time he was admitted and has from that time been 
one of Jamestown's prominent and most trusted law- 
yers. Many young men received their legal education 
under his tutelage. We think a majority of them from 
time to time have been his partners. In 1839 he mar- 
ried Ann Tew, a sister of Geo. W. and W. H. Tew, by 
whom he had three children, all of whom are living, 
married and residents of Jamestown. In 1849 he mar- 
ried Eliza Reed Dexter, by wliom he had one child. 
In 1844 and in 1847 he was elected Surrogate, and in 
1863 and in 1867 County Judge, stations he filled with 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 299 

great satisfaction to the people. Gov. Fenton's home 
office for many years was with Judge Cook, and he was 
his confidential friend and advisor. The Judge is still 
engaged in the active duties of his profession. He is 
truly one of Jamestown's land marks. Erect in per- 
son and venerable in appearance, and like Judge Mar- 
vin, good looking as all old judges appear to be, James- 
town is truly proud of her venerable judges, and has 
the greatest reasons for being so. Judge Cook is in 
good health and as busy as ever in his office; we trust 
he has many years before him. We leave him in his 
studious quiet to finish his course and to become a 
prominent figure in some future history. 

MADISON BURNELL. 

A more than passing notice becomes necessary of 
this extraordinary man. There were no very remark- 
able incidents in his life, but in his intellectual and 
moral make up, there was a fascination and a charm 
no one could resist. We shall therefore make only 
such references to his public career as will enable us 
to make manifest his personal characteristics as a man 
and a lawyer. 

Madison Burnell was born in Chautauqua county 
on the 10th day of Februar}^, 1812. He was one of 
Chautauqua's first borns. His father. Judge Joel Bur- 
nell, settled in what is now the town of Charlotte, in 
the year 1810. The "Judge is described by one who 
knew him well, as a man of -'original and brilliant in- 
tellect and of superior mental endowments and sound 
judgment." Madison was the second of a family of 
eleven children. His childhood and youth were spent 
on the paternal farm, where he shared in the toil of 
changing the wilderness into cultivated fields. Both 
father and mother were persons of remarkable intelli- 



300 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

gence and judgment and great readers. Brought up 
by such parents it would be indeed strange if the son 
did not shave their tastes; indeed, it is said of him 
tliat lie was inclined to read whatever came within his 
reach, and that consisted of his father's law books, 
to which were added a fair library of religious and 
theological works, for his father was a preacher as well 
as a Justice and Associate Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon pleas. Books, such as these, was the reading of 
his boyhood days. Judge Burnell's residence was also 
his office and court room. On court days Madison al- 
ways tucked himself away in a quiet corner and 
watched the proceedings. He became thoroughly ac- 
quainted wdth court procedure and rules of evidence 
at an early age; he undestood everything and forgot 
nothing. He was not quite 16 years old when he com- 
menced reading Blackstone and other law books in 
his father's library. This great work interested the 
future lawyer more than ordinary minds would be in- 
terested in the perusal of romance. When a mere boy 
he conducted a prosecution brought before his father 
against a person for sheep stealing with such skill and 
ingenuity and in accordance with the rules of evi- 
dence as to obtain not only a verdict for the thief, but 
the acquiescence of the entire community in its justness. 
His tender sympathy for this misguided neighbor, 
created a desire to save him from prison, and believ- 
ing he had found a serious flaw in the evidence he 
voluntarily undertook to defend him, and with suc- 
cess. 

Judge Burnell's house for man}^ years was a home 
for the preachers and the place for holding religious 
services. The Judge himself was a Methodist preach- 
er of signal abilitv. Madison became much interested 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 301 

in religious reading and in discussions among and 
with the preachers, and in their religious teachings, 
and listened as attentively and with as much interest 
as in court proceedings. As long as he lived at home 
he cherished this portion of his early education as 
highly as any other, and a short time before his death 
spoke of it with much feeling. When but 17 years of 
age he taught most successfully an unruly country 
school, one most difficult to manage; his force of mind 
was far more successful than the brute force which 
had previoush^ governed. He also in his 17th year 
delivered a Fourth of July oration of great originality 
and overflowing with eloquence and patriotism. A 
brilliant career was prophesied for liim. 

At the age of twenty he finished his preliminary 
education by spending a short time in a high school, 
and a term in Fredonia Academy. Although diligent, 
using to his best these advantages, his real and his re- 
markable education was obtained at home in his 
father's house. We have stated that Mr. Pkiri] ell's 
father was a man of superior abilities — his mother 
was as remarkable for her mental power and ability to 
train the son as was the father, and the superior abil- 
ity of each, which ran in quite different channels was 
fully inherited by their soil Madison. He inherited 
his father's quickness, brilliancy and comprehensive- 
ness, his mother's intuitions- — her closely analytical, 
logical, deeply penetrative mind. Her insight into 
the charactc^r slie was dealing with was a marvel and 
a mystery to all who ever knew her, and this marvel- 
lous insight was one of the greatest characteristics of 
her gifted son. 

About the time he reached his majority he was 
summoned to Jamestown as a witness in an impor- 



302 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tant suit, and there as an attorney in the case, he first 
met Richard P. Marvin, "^ a young man of splendid 
presence, and the most popular and brilliant lawyer in 
Western New York. AUhough Madison watched the 
progress of the suit as if he were judge and jury and 
lawyer on both sides — yet his heau ideal of all earthly 
greatness and splendor was the young lawyer Marvin, 
and that feeling he carried with him to the day of his 
death, — and it is not strange that Marvin was as fully 
captivated with the simplicity, humility and ability of 
the young man he had examined as a witness. The 
moment Mr. Marvin was released from the suit, he in- 
troduced himself to young Burnell and proposed that 
he enter his office as a student at law. AVith this pro- 
position the young man was as much delighted, as sur- 
prised, and without delay, all the arrangements were 
quickly made for his entry to the office of Marvin & 
Warren in the village of Jamestown. The industry 
of young Burnell was great, and his progress in legal 
lore was a marvel even to his sharp-minded friend and 
preceptor Marvin, who paid especial attention to his 
3'oung charge. He st^emed to drink in law by intui- 
tion, and in a short time became distinguished as an 
advocate in justice courts. He became greatly inter- 
ested in the study of the decisions in the higher courts, 
as in them were brought into the clear light the foun- 
dation of law in truth and in common sense. 

He made no haste to seek admission to the bar, 
for he had placed his standard high, and he sought to 
qualify himself for any position in th*e higher courts, 

* We assure the venerable Judge we are not writing the history 
of the present, either as to facts or opinions. What we have written 
above i~ in the precwe words of one of the family as given to us and at 
that early day was true, or we should say the true oi^iuion of the sim- 
ple people of those days. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 303 

when the seal was placed upon his acquirements. 
When the day came when Madison Burnell sought ad- 
mission to the bar, — his ability and qualifications 
caused him to stand forth as a jury lawyer without a 
peer. It is said of the great French anatomist Cuvier, 
that by seeing a tooth, or a few bones of a foot, of one 
of the extinct animals, he could in a few moments 
draw its profile and describe its habits. Comparative 
anatomy and physiology had given him this faculty; 
and such was Madison Burnell's insight into human 
nature, and the ways of the world, that from a simple 
fact in a case he would at times readily predict its ante- 
cedents and consequents, and thus unearth the whole 
matter with accompanying proof. This remarkable 
talent in Madison Burnell, depending for its existence 
on the intuitive in his nature, constitutes that portion 
of his heredity derived from his gifted mother. 

Mr. Burnell approached the trial of an important 
case with a feeling of strange timidity. This grew out 
of the fact that he was always sdf forgetting; self con- 
sciousness was lacking, to a most remarkable degree in 
his organization. He fully estimated the difficulties 
of the case, and gave the largest credit to the strength 
and ability of the opposing counsel, and not the least 
to his own great legal power. He often, in the higher 
courts, in Buffalo and Albany, met the ablest lawyers 
in the state, and though in the conflict he experienced 
no sense of humiliation, yet to the last he was the same 
timid man. As soon as the case opened and his own 
powers began to work, the lion that was in him came 
out of its lair, shook himself, and stood in all the 
proud majesty of his legal strength, filled with all the 
inspiration which his cause if just could give, and in 
all cases his legal lore and ability put to flight the 



304 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

arts of chicane with which some of liis competitors in- 
dulged. 

To Burnell the study of law was not only a busi- 
ness but a pleasure, and his rapid acquirement of 
knowledge was an astonishment to all. He spent sev- 
eral years in Marvin & Warren's office, and notwith- 
standing he learned so rapidly, made liaste slowly to 
gain admittance to the bar. He was admitted in 1838 
and at the same time into company with Mr. Marvin, 
Mr. AVarren retiring and becoming the partner of Ab- 
ner Hazeltine. Mr. Burnell became noted immediately, 
not only as a sound lawyer but a,s an advocate. When 
Mr. Marvin was elevated to the bench of the supreme 
court, Burnell continued the business of tlie office, and 
became noted as an advocate, and as such, having but 
few superiors in the state. 

His power over a jury became so overwhelming, 
that Judge Mullett spoke of it in open court. The 
Judge remarked that the influence of Madison Burnell 
had become dangerously great. "There is no lawyer at 
the bar who can cope with him, and the facility with 
which he makes himself to believe tliat his cause is just, 
he practices on the sympathies of juries;— it is our duty 
to prevent what may become a perversion of justice." 

Mr. Burnell was never more fullv himself than 
when defending the rights of the weak and oppressed. 
Rev. Dr. Moore, his brother-in-law, writing us on this 
subject, says : "We never knew him to refer to any 
suit with more feeling and satisfaction than to one he 
managed for a widow, that had fallen into the hands 
of two villains who had plotted to rol) her through the 
forms of law, of the small property left her for the sup- 
port of herself and children by her husband. About 
four o'clock on Thursday he got hold of a clue to the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 305 

case. Messeng;ers rode and he worked the most of the 
night on the case, and the next day he was ready for 
trial. In summing up, his powers of invective, sarcasm 
and scorn, rose to their highest pitch, — -and that is say- 
ing much, — and vial after vial of honest wrath was 
poured on the heads of those men. The impression 
made was overwhelming. A friend of one of them 
went to him in open court and said in the hearing of 
all — 'M— , d — m you, kill Burnell or leave the country, 
the soonerthe better!' Without leaving their seats, the 
jury granted him a verdict." In the presence of real 
sorrow and suffering he would shed tears like a woman. 
He was one of the most sympathetic of men. This sym- 
pathy was not a part of the lawyer, but was a part of the 
man. He syuipathized deeply with those bowed down 
with sorrow- — filled with grief, pain or distress. We 
never knew a person who was so sincerely and so 
deeply distressed over the sorrows and misfortunes of 
others as Madison Burnell. 

Madison Burnell was at all times and upon all oc- 
casions, no matter where or how placed, ''the noblest 
work of God," an honest man. He despised all the ar- 
tifices of chicane, all deception, all trickery. He was 
too straightforward in all his methods to make a good 
politician. We have before us a number of pages 
siiowing, very correctly the influences which prevented 
the fulfillment of the feeble political aspirations he 
at times may have had. These words cover all — he 
was no politician. He was too rigidly true to liis own 
convictions of right; so much so that he would not 
yield when there was no dishonesty in doing so. The 
pages spoken of amount only to this: — tliat he placed 
implicit confidence in Weed and others — believing 
that their rule of what was right and wrong was as 



306 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

rigid as his own, and in the end found that their rule 
bent into those fantastic shapes their poHtical needs 
required. As a politician, in the ordinary acceptation 
of the term, he was a complete failure. He would not 
himself, or permit his friends, to stoop to what he con- 
sidered trickery or deceit to secure nomination to office. 
For several terms he might have had the nomination 
for congress — and nomination was equivalent to elec- 
tion — by yielding a little to the methods in vogue in 
caucuses. There was a way that appeared to him 
right and another wrong; and he would not yield prin- 
ciple for office. 

Burnell excelled as a criminal lawyer. He had a 
deep insight into human nature, and it seemed as if 
there was any crime in a man, he would detect it by 
looking at him. It used to be said of him, break a 
•chain in fragments, retaining but a single link, and he 
w^ould soon again build up the whole chain, without a 
single fault. He had great influence with the court, 
and his sway over a jury was almost supreme. He was 
-twice elected to the assembly, in 1846 and 1847. This 
was at the time of the adoption of the new constitution, 
and as a member of the Judiciary committe, he was 
of great service in adjusting the statutes of the state 
to it. 

The weak points in Mr. Burnell's character were 
first, his timidity ; he was an extremely modest man, 
and probably his timidity had its origin in this. We 
have been somewhat reluctant to place this character- 
istic in the list of his weaknesses; for it is certainly 
true, that there were times, when its efi'ects on others, 
caused it to prove a source of true and valuable 
strength, and it cannot be denied that it was the foun- 
dation of much we admire in his character. His weak- 



I 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 307 

ness as a politician, founded as it were on the best trait 
in human character we cannot commiserate, for it is 
far better to be an honest man than a good politician. 
He may have been mistaken as to what it truly con- 
sists, but of this we may be assured — that according to 
his method of thought he could not be both, and he 
chose the best. The writer is inclined to think a third 
weak point lay in the humble deference he always 
paid to the opinion of his preceptor and friend, Rich- 
ard P. Marvin. Tlie Judge was his hero and he wor- 
shipped him with a devotion seldom accorded even by 
the most devoted hero worshipper. 

The following is a portion of a conversation 
held with Mr. Burn ell in November 1847 of which we 
made a memorandum at the time. We introduce it 
because he speaks of things and gives us his opinions 
on subjects not ordinarily reached. We had been 
urging him to furnish a lecture for our home course, 
at the Jamestown Academy. After declining in the 
most decided manner he said, " I love learning, but 
have not had the advantages of a liberal education. 
You learned fellows up there quote Latin as if it were 
your mother tongue, and I am disgusted, for the per- 
son who indulges most in that artitice, to my positive 
knowledge, never studied the Latin or an}^ other 
ancient language for over six months. I have gained 
a small knowledge of Latin but know nothing of 
Greek. I look upon this as a marked defect in my 
education, and lament it as a real misfortune. It is a 
great mortification to me that I am unable to read 
such works as Caesar and Cicero — which should, judg- 
ing from translations, rank prominent among the 
works of human intellect — in the language in which 
they were written. I do hate shams and pretense in 



308 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

all things, and I have been led to think there is full as 
much sham in education as in anything else. I met 
a lawyer the other day, a pretended college graduate; 
he had been making a great spread in the court room. 
I at once detected him as a sham, and wrote on a scrap 
of paper a simple sentence of seven words taken by re- 
membrance from the first page of the Latin reader and 
desired him to translate it for me, remarking that I 
was not a Latin scholar. He viewed it and looked up 
at the wall, and looked in every way the pretensive 
fool he was would naturally look, and finally handed 
it back to me, saying it was one of those difficult law 
phrases be had seen, but just then he could not quite 
give tiie true meaning of it. I try to compensate my 
ignorance of the languages, by reading the best Eng- 
glish works and translations, but I often stumble on 
Latin words and phrases and sentences, and longer 
extracts from old authors which I suppose to contain 
some jewel too precious to be exposed to vulgar view, 
and locked in a casket of which I have not the key. 
Perhaps I do not judge correctly in these matters, as I 
profess myself no scholar, but I believe I can at once 
see the difierence between pretended and true knowl- 
edge. Doctor, your selection of lecturers in the main 
is good, but you have on your list more than one sham, 
persons of pretense, nothing else. You invited them 
to lecture because they exerted influence in some spec- 
ial direction or else you was willing to feed us on 
trash. I won't mix in your lecture course. When 
Sammy, (S. A. Brown) Uncle Abner and others I 
might mention lecture I will go as a listener. By the 
way, I think your Charcoal Sketches was good, healthy, 
solid, home-made fun. Your sketches although bor- 
dering on caricature, were true to the life and hurt the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 309 

conceit of more than one of your number and I en- 
joyed it. Wiiatever we do, whether trivial or impor- 
tant, we should do honestly, thoroughly and to the 
best of our ability. No man can be true to himself 
without he is just and true to others, nor can he be 
true to himself or to any one else if the principles 
which actuate him are not founded in the just and the 
true. If a man is not honest he is of but little value 
in this world. And I have lived long enough to learn 
that there is but little honesty in any class of society. 
It is every man's duty to be honest; a duty he owes 
to society and to the country. Look at our politicians, 
how long will the country last under such fellows. 
Ability and honesty are not looked for, . but will he 
help our party — yes, help our party to steal, or any- 
thing else, vile, wrong and unpatriotic. I would rather 
be Shakespeare's dog and bay the moon." 

In 1840 Mr. Burnell married Sarah Spurr. To 
them were born three children. The only son, Mel- 
verton died in 1864. Valissa married J. S. Cook and 
now resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ella was mar- 
ried to Dr. Charles S. Hazeltine in 1867 and died in 
Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1873, leaving two children, 
Eliza Irene and Madison Burnell. 

Mr. Burnell was returning from Fredonia in poor 
health. He stopped at his mother's in Charlotte over 
night. Next day he took dinner with his sister (wife 
of Rev. H. H. Moore) in Sinclairville. On the even- 
ing of that day he took tea in his own house, com- 
plaining no more than usual. Having important bus- 
iness to transact at his office he arose from the table 
and went out the front door. Half an hour later Mad- 
ison Burnell was found on the ground a few feet from 
the door, dead. The writer was soon there but the body 



310 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was cold. He must have fallen and died immediately 
after leaving the house. Thus passed into eternity 
one of the most remarkable men that ever lived in 
our midst, on the evening of December 8, 1865. 

The writer has condensed his material much more 
than his own inclinations dictate. The few remain- 
ing that knew Madison Burnell living will soon with 
him find places in our city of the dead. We could 
not have written less and give even a shadowy pic- 
ture of this eminent man. If there is ever written 
the biographies of the most eminent lawyers of the 
Empire state, he will receive prominent and honora- 
ble mention, and not until the city of Jamestown shall 
be obliterated from the map of the state, should its in- 
habitants cease to venerate the memory of Madison 
Burnell as one of her greatest and most deserving of 
citizens. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Organization of the Congregational Church — 
Quarrel and Division — Formation of the 
Presbyterian Church — Father Spencer — 
Father Eddy — E. J. Gillett — History of the 
Methodist Church — Quarrel and Division — 
The Wesleyan Church — Edward Work — 
Father Crane — Alonzo Kent — Man a Relig- 
ious Being — Mormons in Jamestown — The Bap- 
tist Church — Deacon John C. Breed — The 
First Sunday School in Jamestown — Origin of 
the Episcopal Church. 



Ill the realm of human thouglit and knowledge, 
how conflicting are the ideas and opinions of mankind ! 
What one has been led to embrace as true, by his neigh- 
bor, equally candid and as able to form a judgment, is 
considered false, and the third of equal reasoning pow- 
ers, discredits the opinions advanced by each. It is 
impossible to make an assertion however grave or even 
trifling — and to all appearance founded on most undis- 
puted truth — which your neighbor will not immedi- 
ately undertake to show is false, and that you are igno- 
rant of the principles involved, and that your assertion 
is based in the most apparent falsehood. If you have 



312 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

become convinced of the truth of a doctrine seemingly 
based in intuitive certainty, you will not have iar to 
go to find a man who will deny the doctrine you have 
espoused and pronounce in the most positive manner, 
that what to you is intuitively true is to him intuitive- 
ly false. In a case of plainl}^ vast importance as, for 
instance, the formation and promulgation of men's 
opinions regarding religion, it would seem as if all 
passions and prejudices should be laid aside in the 
hearty desire to find the truth, yet we find the same 
clashing of opinions as to what is reasonable and un- 
reasonable, of what is true and ftilse. No matter what 
the dogma or belief may be, you speedily find that an- 
other deems it untrue and not worthy of belief. And 
if you strive to impress upon him the importance of 
unity of belief, he will argue that safety and true ad- 
vancement is to be found in dissonance and variety of 
opinions. Some evils of this state of things are very 
apparent. These conflicting opinions cannot all be 
true. A large portion of mankind, and indeed, all 
persons, to some extent, are holding opinions in oppo- 
sition to one another, and, on some one subject, at 
least, erroneous ones. This leads to disturbance and 
time-consuming controversy. The cause of truth suf- 
fers from that want of union in efibrt which comes from 
the division of good men into sects and schools. Could 
these men see eye to eye and at the same time truly, 
it would give an unprecedented impulse to the best in- 
terests of society. • A year would hold up in its exult- 
ant hands such fruitage as centuries of separate and 
conflicting action have not been able to ripen. The 
compact army, marching as one man, gains victories 
impossible to many times its number of undisciplined 
soldiers, whatever their individual zeal and strength. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 313 

And yet, it is the teaching of all history, that this 
conflict of opinion will continue as long as man con- 
tinues to inliabit this earth. The civil as well as the 
religious power combined, aided by vast armies, have 
not been able to enforce unity of belief or to overcome 
the conflict of human opinions. It was an attempt to 
produce this uniformity which expelled our New Eng- 
land forefathers from their English homes; and it was 
by an act of uniformity that they afterwards expelled 
from their wilderness homes, for opinions sake, their 
dissenting neighbors. Conflict of opinions as of old, 
continues to exist, and ever will, as old diflerences die 
out new ones are continually coming to life. And es- 
pecially in matters of religion, if now there is more 
agreement as to fundamental doctrines, we are more 
widely divergent on points of minor consequence, and 
the points of divergence are far more numerous. In- 
creased knowledge and greater intellectual culture 
have widened our habits of thought and given us new 
subjects for speculative views. The conflicts of opinion 
in the present age are not the rude and material ones 
of the ages that are past, but those dependent on our 
superior light and knowledge, and it is but reasonable 
to think they will continue as long as invention and 
discovery and advancement in knowledge of nature's 
plans and actions are within the reach of the grasping 
mind of man. 



In writing up this part of our task we intend as 
plainly and mildly as possible to tell the truth, if not the 
whole truth. It is said that offences will come. By that- 
we suppose misunderstandings, bickerings, differences 
of opinions and quarrels are meant. We have ob- 
served, and so must have all, that the members of our 



314 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

churches and doctors — the two most important and 
necessary classes in a civilized and well-to-do commu- 
nity — have more quarrels and differences than any- 
other classes of society. And what is more strange 
than all, religious societies are more anxious to cover 
up these faults and their quarrels than any other class 
and are most unreasonably offended if any one men- 
tions them. Whatever appears in this chapter relating 
to the Congregational church and society is largely in 
the words of Hon. Abner Hazeltine, given in a Histor- 
ical Address at the 50th Anniversary of the Congrega- 
tional church in 1866. 

HISTORY AND DIVISION OFTPIE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

In order to appreciate the feebleness when the first 
organized band of worshippers set up a standard in this 
wilderness, it is necessary to look into the state of the 
country on the 16th of June, 1816, when a few profess- 
ing Christians here entered into convenant obligations 
with each other and with God,, and were organized as 
a church of Christ. Our goodly village was then a 
mere hamlet in the midst of a forest. Its inhabitants 
were few iii number, most of whom were engaged in 
the manufacture of lumber, and the only spires we 
then had, were lofty pines which over-shadowed this 
spot, and occupied most of the space where dwellings, 
stores, churches, and other structures raised by men 
are now so abundant. The idea of a village at this 
place, to become at some future period a center of bus- 
iness for the surrounding country was just started, and 
a few enterprising men were commencing the experi- 
ment, when Mr. West commenced preaching (in 
1814.) Then there were onl}^ three professors of relig- 
ion in the place, viz., Captain Joseph Dix,. and Mr. 
and Mrs. Jacob Fenton, all Congregationalists.. It is 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 315 

proper that we should say a few words of Mr. West; 
for ahhough he remained in the county several years, 
there are very few among us who have ever heard his 
name. How just is the remark, 'Man being in honor, 
abideth not!' When we first knew Mr. West he was 
about forty years of age, and a bachelor. Having 
lived long in the new settlements, he was careless of 
his personal appearance, and was at home in any log 
cabin whose latch-string was on the outside. 

"The first sermon I heard here was in 1815, short- 
ly after my arrival. Information was given to me one 
Saturday that there was a minister at Mr. Fenton's 
who would preach there the next day. I soon called 
and was introduced to the Rev. John Spencer, a mis- 
sionary in the service of the Connecticut Missionary 
society. I found him a plain, old gentleman, nearly 
sixty years of age. He said his business was to look 
up Christ's sheep, scattered here and there in this wil- 
derness to strengthen them wdiat he could, and organ- 
ize them into churches, wlienever a sufficient number 
could be found in any neighborhood to warrant such 
a proceeding. He spoke of the prospect, that this lit- 
tle settlement would become a place of business, and 
he hoped soon to be able to form a church here; but 
said he could not learn that there were professors 
enough here then. He enjoined it on me to ascertain 
how many there were in the vicinity and to do what I 
could in the furtherance of the object. The next day 
he preached two sermons to a small but attentive con- 
gregation. The singing was conducted by General 
Horace Allen and Jesse Smith, * now of Panama, then 

* .Josse Smith is frequently spoken of in this volume. He was a 
son-in-law of Captain Horatio Dix and father of Major Gilbert D. 
Smith, spoken cf in Chap. 9. Jesse Smith and wife both died a few 
years ago in Panama, where they had resided for several years pre- 
viousl}'. 



316 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

young men working in the saw mill. They were as- 
sisted by a few ladies. In June, 1816, Mr. Spencer 
again visited the place and stayed several days. It 
was now ascertained that the number of professors 
had increased since his former visit and he advised 
the formation of a church. At this organization, the 
church consisted of nine members, viz., Joseph Dix, 
Jacob Fenton and Lois Fenton, Oliver Higley and Lu- 
cretia Higley, Ebenezer Sherwin, Milton Sherwin, Ab- 
ner Hazoltine and Daniel Hazeltine." [All now dead 
(.1887) except Milton Sherwin.] 

For several years after the organization, Mr. Spen- 
cer visited twice a year or oftener, and occasionally 
ministers from other boards, or traveling through the 
country gave us calls. Those who came most fre- 
quently were the Rev. Timothy Alden, the first Presi- 
dent of Allegheny College, and the Rev. Mr. Chase of 
Centerville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Chase was a cousin of 
Bishop Chase of Illinois and uncle of Chief Justice 
Chase. 

Mr. Spencer was in many respects a remarkable 
man, and it is fitting there should be some memorial 
of his life and labors. He was born at Spencertown, 
in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county. The first 
settlers in that region came from Southern Massachu- 
setts and Northern Connecticut. Among them the 
Spencers were prominent, and gave their name to the 
principal settlement, when a flourishing Congrega- 
tional church was formed, over which several doctors 
in divinity have presided. He was of the same fami- 
ly as the Hon. Ambrose Spencer, and nearly related 
to the late Joshua A. Spencer. He arrived at man- 
hood in the sirring times of the revolution and was a 
participant in the events of that period. He served 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 317 

early and long in our armies, first in the troops of 
Massachusetts and afterwards in those of his native 
state. He entered as a private, rose to be an officer, 
and served some time as the aid of the gallant Colonel 
Wiletts. He used to say when interrogated about his 
education, that he was educated in the continental 
army. Although his education was limited he wrote 
and spoke English with great accuracy. He had much 
intellectual acuteness and was noted for the keenness of 
his wit. As a preacher he was remarkably clear and 
logical, always making himself distinctly understood- 
In 1819 there was a considerable revival here and in 
the neighboring towns. Rev. Fhineas Camp, pastor 
of the Presbyterian church at Westfield, Elder Davis 
and some other Baptist preachers visited this region, 
preaching to the people. Elder Davis was an old 
neighbor to some of the members in A'ermont, and 
preached statedly for a time by special arrangement. 
On the twenty-second day of October; 1S21, a meeting 
of the members of the church and others was held pur- 
suant to notice for the purpose of organizing a relig- 
ious corporation, under the statutes of the state. That 
object was accomplished, the corporation taking the 
name of the First Congregational church of James- 
town. The first trustees were William Deland, Daniel 
Hazeltine and Samuel A. Brown. From 1821 to 1824 
public worship was regularly observed in the Acad- 
emy, though generally without preaching. Many at- 
tempts were made to procure a stated supply by a 
minister of our denomination, none of which were suc- 
cessful. As a last resort, in the summer of 1824, some 
of the members of the church united with other per- 
sons in employing the Rev. Rufus Murray of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal church, then residing in Mayville, 



318 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

to supply US one-half the the time during the season 
of navigation on the lake. While matters were in this 
shape, one of the members being at Warren on busi- 
ness, there met the Rev. Isaac Eddy, who was on a 
visit to his brother at that place, and invited him to 
Jamestown. Mr. Eddy remained several weeks, re- 
ceived a call and afterwards remained for several years, 
preaching with much acceptance, and greatly reviving 
the church. During his pastorate many of our prom- 
inent young people and some leading citizens, among 
whom was Judge Foote, gave evidence of conversion, 
and A^ere afterwards received into communion. 

The progress of the church was onward; there 
was scarcely a communion season without additions. 
The village grew rapidly, and the surrounding coun- 
try was prosperous. Mr. Eddy was a faithful pastor, 
and perhaps at no other time was the discipline of the 
church so strictly enforced. The church from being 
dependent on foreign aid, became self-supporting. 
In the fall of 1827 an association was formed for erect- 
ing a meeting house. In this enterprise no one was 
more active than Alvin Plumb, Esq., then a young and 
prosperous merchant in the village. Up to this time 
the old Academy, which had ceased to be used as a 
school house, was the place of worship. It was some- 
what re-modeled and titted up with a rude gallery, but 
was wholly inadequate. After considerable debate as 
to location, size and form, the frame was raised the lat- 
ter part of June, 1828, but was not finished until De- 
cember, 1829. It was, when completed, the best 
church edifice in the county. 

"But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked. A portion of 
the church, including some who had been brought into 
it by Mr. Eddy's instrumentality, about this time made 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 319 

the discovery that Mr. Eddy was an unlearned man, 
that he had become old and was behind the times, and 
it began to be said that he should not preach in the 
new house. The time for dedication was approaching 
and a neighboring minister was spoken of by many as 
the preacher, on that occasion. The acting trustee, a 
man of much financial ability, reported that he was 
unable to raise the salary for the current year. Upon 
this announcement Mr. Plumb and Dr. Hazeltine, 
members of the society, but not of the church, said if 
the slietp would not pay their minister, the ^oc//'.s- would 
undertake it. They got up a subscription for the re- 
ported deficiency, which was filled in a da}^ with a 
handsome surplus. Although the salary was raised, 
the state of things was not agreeable to a man of Mr. 
Eddy's temperament, and at the close of the year he 
tendered his resignation, which w^as accepted. Upon 
the retirement of Mr. Eddy, the Rev. Erastus J. Gillett 
was invited to supply the pulpit. He was at first a 
Baptist preacher, but came here a zealous Presbyterian, 
seeming to believe that his mission was to presbyteri- 
anize the church. When he came the church and soci- 
ety had become strong. The business of the place had 
greatly increased, and the village was assuming a com- 
manding position. People flocked to the place for 
various reasons, among whom were many professors of 
religion, who cast in their lot with us. The summer 
of 1831 was a season of general revival throughout the 
country, and our church shared in the glorious work. 
On the second of October in that year, forty-eight were 
admitted to the church. Nearly all of them were re- 
ceived on the profession of their faith. This is the 
greatest number ever received at one time to our com- 
munion. The church was now strong in number.s, in 



320 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

influence, and in the means of supporting its institu- 
tions, but with all this prosperity, there was evidently 
a want of harmony. As early as August 5, 1830, a 
prominent membergave notice that he should at some 
subsequent meeting move for a division of the church. 
The same member was afterwards a leader in the di- 
vision that occurred. About this time the great con- 
flict between tlie old and new school parties in the 
Presbyterian church was at its height. Barnes and the 
elder Beecher were arraigned as heretics, and the whole 
subject Avas an engrossing topic among evangelical 
Christians. Mr. Gillett was a zealous new school man, 
and in private interviews with leading members used 
to argue the importance of our becoming Presbyteri- 
ans, on the ground that it would add more strength to 
the new school party. There were also frequent re- 
marks that another church was wanted in the eastern 
part of the village, which then, as well as more recent- 
ly, was supposed to grow much faster than other por- 
tions of it. This constant talk about Presbyterianism 
and another church, no doubt helped to prepare the 
way for what afterwards followed. On the 12th of 
September, 183o, Messrs. Foote and AVait, both of 
whom had been brought up Congregationalists, had an 
entry made upon the records that they were Presbyte- 
rians." 

"In speaking of the division of the church which 
occurred In 1834, I am aware that I am treading on 
debatable ground. Perhaps not exactly 'between burn- 
ing plough shares,' but I am apprehensive that the 
fires wliich heated them are not M'holly extinguished. 
1 am aware, also, that very different versions have been 
given, both of the cause and the facts of that division. 
It has been said, even, that we seceded from the Pres- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 321 

byterians. How that could be, when we never were a 
Presbyterian church, and remained what we were, at 
the formation, it is difficult to conceive. Still, it was 
even quite common in some circles to speak of us as 
the secedei'f^. Some attributed the cause of our divis- 
ion to a controversy which at one time existed in the 
church in respect to Free Masonry. That controversy, 
no doubt, caused some of the alienation of feeling that 
existed, but when the division came, it was not *on 
that line.' Several of those who had been or were Free 
Masons, remained with us, wdiilst others of the same 
class went with the Presbyterians. By others, the di- 
vision was attributed to alienated feelings growing out 
of the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Eddy, and opposition 
to his successor. It is very likely Mr. Eddy's dismis- 
sion intensified in some minds, the ill-feeling that ex- 
isted. With regard to Mr. Gillett, had he been less 
zealous for Presbyterianism, and said less about a di- 
vision of the church, he w-ould not have been opposed. 
What opposition there was to him, and there was not 
much previous to the separation, was mainly on those 
grounds. It is also a fact that when the separation 
came, some who had been active in bringing about 
Mr. Eddy's dismission remained firm adJicrents of the 
old cliurch, wliilst some of Mr. Eddy's friends and even 
some members of his family went with tliose who left. 
The principal cause of the division, and without which 
it would not have occurred, was the desire on the part 
of a few leading minds, the pastor included, to revolu- 
tionize the church, and by making it distinctively 
Presbyterian, to transfer the government of the church 
from the majority to a select few, who could be more 
readily managed. They intended, undoubtedly, to re- 
tain the records, the ecclesiastical corporation, the 



322 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

church edifice, and the prestige of the old church. 
Most likely they expected that the strong Congrega- 
tionalists, rather than surrender them, would eventual- 
ly submit to the desired change. Their motives to di- 
vide, I always believed, were arguments ?n terrorem. 

"But the crisis came at last. Judge Foote, on the 
twelfth of September. 1833, the same day on which he 
had his name entered on the minutes as a Presbyter- 
ian, offered a resolution in these words: 'Resolved^ 
that the book of constitutions of the Presbyterian 
church of the United States should be observed by this 
church, so far as it is consistent with a Congregational 
church, on the plan of Union between Presb^'terian 
and Congregational churches under the Buffalo Pres- 
bytery.' 

"Of course the introduction of the resolution caused 
a sensation; and the more, as Mr. Gillett had pre- 
viously been in the habit of taking with him The 
Book, as it was called, to church meetings and citing 
its rules and directions. A counter resolution was im- 
mediately offered by Daniel Hazeltine, to the effect 
that the connection between the church and Presby- 
tery be dissolved and measures taken to form an Asso- 
ciation. Action was not then pressed upon either res- 
olution. On the fifth of December following, a new 
clerk was appointed, who presented a charge against 
one of the members upon '■conimon fame and general 
Tumor^ no one appearing as an accuser. Objections 
were made to the reception of this complaint, unless 
some accuser appeared on the record, it not being ac- 
cording to Congregational usage it was urged, to in- 
vestigate charges founded on common fame. The 
complaint was, however, received, and a committe ap- 
pointed to prosecute the alleged offender, and |]ie 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 333 

meeting adjourned to the eighteenth of the same 
month, at 10 a. m. On that day, after the transaction 
of some other business, the resolution proposed by Mr. 
Daniel Hazeltme was called up, and the question 
thereon taken by yeas and nays and lost, twenty-two 
voting in favor, and the same number against the reso- 
lution. The resolution of Judge Foote in relation 
to the Presbyterian book was also taken up and lost. 
The case of discipline on the charge of 'common fame' 
was then taken up and the accused being present, it 
was moved that he be required to answer. This was 
opposed on the grounds that there was no responsible 
accuser and that the previous steps of gospel labor had 
not been taken. The motion to require the accuser to 
plead, as the matter then stood, was lost. .Judge Foote 
then moved that the church observe the rules of the 
Presbyterian church, in cases when we have no rules 
to govern us. This motion was put and lost. When 
the motion was decided, Mr. Gillett, who had the Book 
in his hands, threw it down and said with much em- 
phasis; 'we have no law, no rules to guide us. How 
am I to moderate the meeting?' The quick reply of 
Deacon Garfield was, 'For mercy's sake, Mr. Gillett, let 
us do then as the early settlers in Connecticut resolved 
to do, be governed by the laws of God, until wo have 
better.' The results which were obtained caused a deep 
sensation. They were undoubtedly unexpected by 
those who wished a change. The time and circum- 
stances under which the votes were taken were sup- 
posed to be favorable for a different termination. 
Those who desired a different result had selected their 
own time and manner for bringing itjibout, and they 
supposed that some obstacles that might be in the way 
were removed, an old member, decidedly Congrega- 



324 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tiona], bein^ absent. The then clerk, of the church was 
of the Presbyterian party. His entry in ttie records 
in respect to the last motion of Judge Foote, is as fol- 
lows; 'Motion after discussion being put was lost.' He 
then adds; 'Taking into consideration existing cir- 
cumstances and contending opinions, as to church 
government, they being such as to paralyze all efforts 
to discipline, it was deemed necessary that steps be 
taken preparatory to a division of the church. Accord- 
ingly committees were chosen to adopt measures for a 
division of church and society property, etc' The 
following persons were chosen as such committee. 
Those on the Congregational side were Daniel Hazel- 
tine, William M. Edd}'- and James Carey. Those on 
the side wishing to remain with Buffalo Presbytery 
were Elial T. Foote, Joseph Wait and Elias Haven. 
The meeting, after the choice of a delegate to Presby- 
tery, adjourned to the twent^^-fifth of the same month. 
"On that day the church again met. Propos- 
itions for division were made by both parties, neither 
of which were accepted. It was then moved that the 
voice of the church on the expediency of a division 
should be taken. This done and the yeas and naj^s 
being called for, twenty voted that it was expedient 
and twelve that it was not. These propositions are 
not spread upon the record, but the substance of them 
was, that the Congregationalists should, within a spec- 
ified time, pay to the Presbyterians a stipulated sum, 
supposed to be half the value of the church grounds, 
purchase all the pews of such pew holders as preferred 
to sell at the prices originally placed upon them, and 
permit the Presbyterians to use the house until the 
terpas were complied with. As soon as it was ascer- 
tained that the Congregationalists would carry out 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 335 

the arrangement on their part, fifty-four members of 
the church were by its pastor organized as a Presby- 
terian church. Several others shortly after took let- 
ters of dismission to the new church. 

'"Upon the character of this transaction, we do not 
propose to comment. Whether it was in accordance 
with Christian principles, or was affected by legitimate 
means, or was in conformity with Presbyterian usages, 
we shall not attempt to decide. The new church was 
not formed by the Presbytery, but was received into it 
after its organization. That the division was unneces- 
sary and uncalled for at the time, and would not have 
occurred, if the prudent course pursued by Father Eddy 
had been continued, we are quite confident. After 
many attempts, in various directions, to get a minister, 
Mr. Taylor was at length induced to come, and was in- 
stalled and remained two years, faithfully and accepta- 
ably discharging the duties of his office. He then be- 
lieved it to be his duty to return to New England, and 
we were again left to take care of ourselves. We at 
length secured the services of the Rev. Edwin Parmely, 
who was then preaching occasionally at Ashville in 
what would be called an irregular way, that is, he had 
received no license from any ecclesiastical body, but 
felt impelled to do what he did, to induce his fellow 
men to repent and believe, Some of our people hear- 
ing a good account of him, invited him to spend a few 
Sabbaths with us. His preaching w^as acceptable and 
the Association soon gave him a formal license. He 
was soon after installed our pastor. After being with 
us a few 3^ears he contracted a bronchial affection 
which rendered it impossible for him to speak so as to 
be heard in our church, and compelled him to resign. 
On Mr. Parmlv's leaving us, we were for a time with- 



326 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

out a minister ; Mr. S. H. Elliott, a member of the New- 
Haven seminary, supplied us for a few weeks, and gave 
us encouragement that he would return; he did not 
return, but sent in his place the Rev. Owen Street. 
Several were twice disappointed in him — first that it 
was not Mr. Elliott who came — and then, that they 
found themselves liking Mr. Street better than they 
did Mr. Elliott. 

"But we are getting a little too near the present 
time to enlarge. Mr. Street remained with us nine 
years ; his pastorate was a season of prosperity ; our 
number and our strength increased, the old debt was 
obliterated, and we again felt strong. Our minister 
was a favorite in the community, and perhaps greater 
harmony has at no time prevailed. The only charge 
we have against Mr. Street is that he stole away from 
us unawares, as did Jacob from Laban, the Syrian ; 
and although he did not like his prototype take away 
our daughters, he did carry with him the aftections of 
the people. Mr. Street was in a few months succeeded 
by the Rev. Sylvanus P. Marvin of Saybrook, Conn., a 
recent graduate from the New Haven seminary, who 
remained five years and a half. As might be expected 
from a descendant of the Mathers, coming from the 
place from which the celebrated jr;^ry/^/Y«'w? took its 
name, he was a good pastor, and faithful ; he was a 
friend of order, and came and went in an orderly man- 
ner. 

"We have performed the duty assigned us. It has 
been pleasant to recall the memories of 3'ears long past, 
and to bring in review the scenes and actors of former 
times. To us it has been indeed a labor of love; it is a 
pleasure to think and to speak of former associates, and 
to notice the kindly dealings of our heavenly Father. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 327 

We have great reason to be grateful for the numerous 
favors and blessings which he has bestowed upon us. 
Through his goodness our ways have been ways of 
pleasantness, and our paths peace. Since the great 
contest in 1834 which rent us asunder, we have had 
few jars and have known little of jealousies, heart 
burnings or embittered feelings. We are at peace with 
our neighbors of other denominations, and we can 
meet and pray with them as brethren. The matters 
about which we differ are not often mentioned, except 
in a friendly spirit. Of our Presbyterian brethren who 
went from us, but few remain, and towards those who 
do, we -trust we entertain none but friendly feelings. 
A new generation has arisen among them, even more 
fully than with us, and we certainly do not hold them 
accountable for any acts of their predecessors, which 
in our judgment were wrong. Substantially, we be- 
believe, ' Ephraim has ceased to envy Judah, and Ju- 
dah to vex Ephraim.' The separation that occurred 
was painful at the time, but no doubt has been over- 
ruled for good," 



At the time this division took place there stood on 
the south side of Second street and facing Spring 
street, a large two-story, wooden building. This build- 
ing was erected by a company for merchandizing, and 
was divided into three stores. The east store was orig- 
inally occupied by Titus Kellogg & Co., for dry goods, 
etc., the center one by Luther Lakin for hardware, and 
the west by Havens & Grout as a dry goods store. At 
the time in review none of these stores were occupied. 
The second story of this building, which was large and 
spacious, was very soon converted into a place for the 
meetings of the Presbyterian church. The entrance 



338 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was through the center store, at the back end of which 
were stairs ascending, one to tlie east and the other to 
the west to the assembly room above. The congrega- 
tion was sufficient to fairly fill this large room. Nearly 
all of the young people went with the Presbyterians. 

Mr. Gillettfor a longtime had been our teacher of 
Latin and Greek, and we could not forsake our old 
preceptor, and was ranked by our much respected 
uncles with the seceders. In 1834 the Presbyterians 
built a large, commodious church on the corner of 
Cherry and Third streets, where the present beautiful 
church now stands. The edifice erected in 1834 was 
destroyed by fire in 1877. The Congregationalists in 
1868 built the large brick church on Third street be- 
yond Prendergast avenue, where they now worship. 
The old building was sold, and after passing through 
various hands and uses, was also destroyed by fire. Mr. 
Geo, W. Tew then purchased the lots and erected 
thereon the fine residence in which he now lives. 

Mr. Gillett remained the pastor of the Presbyterian 
church for several years. He was a man of influence, 
much loved and respected by his church and congre- 
gation. He built tlie house yet standing on the south- 
west corner of Prendergast avenue and Fourth street, 
and resided there many years. He finally went west, 
first to Fon du Lac in Wisconsin, afterwards was a pro- 
fessor of chemistry in a college at Kenosha in Iowa 
where he died a few years ago. He was a man of en- 
ergy and a good preacher. 



The following history of the organization of the 
Methodist Episcopal church in Ellicott, and especially 
of the trouble which rent the church asunder, is from 
the pen of that ready writer and close observer Elijah 



\ 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 329 

Bishop, a life-long, active and prominent member of 
that church. 

Mr. Bishop commences at the organization of the 
first class in Worksburg in 1814, of which Edward 
Work, James and John Willson, John Arthur, Wm. 
Staples and their wives were the members. He gives 
a long and accurate list of the presiding elders and 
of the preachers from that time, with the dates of their 
service up to the present time. This long list, if space 
permits, will be given in our appendix. In the por- 
tion we exclude, Mr. Bishop states that in 1820 Phele- 
tus Parkus being preacher and E. Work secretary, a 
legal society was formed in order to secure a deed of 
twenty-five acres of land donated by the Holland Land 
Company to the first legally organized church in the 
town of Ellicott, and that this donation was received 
b}^ this organization. In 1843 Moses Hill was the 
preacher in Jamestown and J. J, Steadman presiding 
elder. Mr. Bishop continues : 

"Here comes in the causes of the formation and 
history of the Weslej'an church. I reluctantly enter 
into its history, but as it is not generally understood I 
am in duty bound to write it truthfully, divested of 
any ill feeling to those who w^ere the actors. The 
preacher (Moses Hill) had lived here before, went away, 
was converted, became a preacher and was sent here, 
where he took great pains to improve the singing in 
public worship ; a teacher was hired, he joined the 
singing class. To help the music a musical instru- 
ment was added in public services. All went well unil 
action was taken in the conference against the use of 
instrumental music in public worship. The presiding 
elder, (J. J, Steadman) came and directed the preacher 
to order the instrument out of the choir, which he did. 



330 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

The choir, composed mostly of some of the best mem- 
bers of the church, thought ho had no right to do it as 
it had never been done before. The matter was re- 
ferred to the presiding elder, who decided against the 
choir; the question of power was referred to the bishop 
who decided ' that the preacher in charge had full 
power over all matters in the church, to appoint its 
officers, direct the time and manner of worship and 
singing, and appoint the trustees except in states where 
the law provided otherwise.' This produced great 
astonishment and dissatisfaction, as the trustees here 
were appointed according to law by a vote of the 
church. The trustees (of which I was chairman) were 
told to order the instrument out of the choir. I had 
taken no part in the controversy, and undertook to 
make peace. The choir agreed to leave out the instru- 
ment if a vote of the majority of the church decided 
it. I went to the preacher (Hill) with the proposition, 
which he utterly rejected. I earnestly urged it, saying 
if the order was enforced a number of our best mem- 
bers would leave. He replied ' it was his province to 
rule, that the stars might fall from heaven but this re- 
bellion must come down; that if but three members 
were left he would present to conference a true Meth- 
odist Episcopal church,' and other positive assertions. 
In a public address the presiding elder (Steadman) said 

* Let them secede and their history vill be the history 
of all past secessions who are now only known as once 
having been with us; we number sixteen hundred 
thousand, have gained many thousands last year, etc' 
Another preacher at the quarterly conference said, 

* Were I preacher here I would take the discipline in 
my hand, go and smash down the church door and 
turn out those radicals !' The house had not been 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 331 

closed against any one. They held a quarterly con- 
ference composed of the preacher, his appointees and 
presiding elder, when it was decided to order me to 
turn the choir out. The preacher gave it to me (as I 
was chairman of the board). I begged of him not to 
enforce it as it would ruin the church which we had 
built up with so much labor; that to him it was of less 
consequence as he would soon be gone ; that I could 
not conscientiously do it, but would resign and let one 
be appointed who could. The trustees here were ap- 
pointed under the laws of New York. The next I 
knew my class leader (Orril Green) came to me and 
said he had a charge against me for disol)edience of 
orders which the preacher told him to present. I was 
greatly astonished, for I had labored in the church for 
over thirty years and never had a shadow come over 
me before. I told him the whole case, when he in- 
dignantly said 'it was outrageous and he would return 
the charge to the minister.' He was put out of office 
and another class leader appointed. Next I found one 
morning thrown into my house the charge, citing me 
to a trial within twenty-four hours. I subsequently 
learned that at a secret meeting held at A. W. Muzzy's 
(who lived across the way from the church) it was de- 
cided to turn me out to strike terror into the rest. A 
committee was appointed to try me, and a preacher on 
his way from a circuit over the ridge was to at- 
tend the trial and give a warning to others by my 
fate. Dr. Van Rensselaer of Randolph was one of the 
committee chosen. Coming here he learned the facts 
of the case, and distinctly told them it would not do to 
use that power. It would put weapons into tlic hands 
of our enemies and ruin the cliurch ; that it had better 
be settled and take up with my offer of resignation, 



332 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

which was done. Matters grew worse and worse, the 
singers left the galler}^, and on the next Sunday, Hill 
gave out the hymn of which the second verse was : 
" Let those refuse to sing, 

Who never knew our God, 
But servants of our Heavenly King 
May speak their joys abroad." 

"It was sung with great glee, and the choir and 
their S3^mpathizers were spoken of, 'They look mean, 
feel mean and are mean, etc' I found that I shared 
the fate of a man who stepped in to stop a fight who 
got badly whipped himself. 

"I will here pay a compliment to a man who, 
though not a member, generously stepped in and 
helped the preacher and luis been a great help t© the 
church ever since, for which I did then and do now 
honor him. 

"Matters grew worse and worse, for in those days 
the anti-slavery feeling was aroused in the church and 
the withdrawal of some of its most influential mem- 
bers who had been persecuted for theirprinciples, such 
as Luther Lee, Edward Smith, Cyrus Prindle, L. C. 
Matlock and many others who had formed an anti- 
slavery church; also the temperance question was up 
in the church. Efforts were made to restore to the 
discipline Wesley's rule which forbade the manufac- 
ture and sale of intoxicating drinks. It was alleged 
that arbitrary and wrong decisions were made against 
the reformers by the presiding bishops at conference, 
which prejudiced many against the bishop feature of 
the church. Those elements of dissatisfaction mingled 
with the action taken here in regard to church music, 
and the agitation grew worse. Added to this, the next 
year Joseph Flower, rash, and firm as he was rash, 
was stationed here, who took up the difficulty. The 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 333 

Wesleyans started a paper. A Mr. Rogers handed one 
of the papers to my brother to read. Abrani Pier 
wished to see it. Flower heard of it and preferred a 
charge against my brother 'for reading and circulat- 
ing a paper published by Orange Scott called The 
Wesleyan.' At the trial my brother honestly confes- 
sed he saw sucli a paper and did not know as there 
was any harm in that. He had taken no part in the 
church difficulty. The committee to get out of the 
absurd case, decided 'the charge not sustained' al- 
though it M'as confessed in the trial. Flower made a 
flaming speech saying 'but some will say have we not 
the right to read such papers if we choose? A pretty 
doctrine this! I have Universalist papers but think it 
wrong to put them into the hands of those wlio are not 
able to detect their fallacies.' Such was the treatment 
then received by those who were suspected of being 
recusant members of the church, so that fifteen or 
twent}^ asked for letters of dismission which was sneer- 
ingly refused. All over the country the question of 
slavery and whiskey agitated the M. E. church; at 
every conference north, efforts were made to take ac- 
tion in relation to an alteration of the discipline on 
those subjects; the movers were treated with great in- 
dignation as enemies of the church when they only 
wished to purify it. It was so here, yet I will confess 
they were honest, and I believe the Wesleyans were 
forced out on a mission by divine appointment to save 
and purify the church which worked that in the end 
as we shall see; and so it has been acknowledged by 
some of the first men in the church. 

''Luther Lee came here, preached, organized a 
Wesleyan church of 47 members (mostly from the old 
church.) They hired a house in which to hold their 



§34 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

services, and finally erected a respectable church edi" 
fice on the east side of what is now known as Prender- 
a:ast avenue and on what is now the Third street ex- 
tension, had preaching and a Sabbath school which 
drew off many scholars from the old church. They 
met with great success as the sympathy of the public 
was with them. Conversions and additions followed, 
the old church suffered loss as even many who staid 
with them felt they could help it better in than out of 
it. They hardly held their own until they were re- 
vived by the ministry and by the coming of the Rev. 
John Peate in '57 and '58. There were men in the 
Wesleyan church with fertility of ideas, with words to 
clothe them, power of utterance and magnetic influ- 
ence to carry them to the hearts of their hearers. The 
Christian sentiment of the north was with them, and 
the contest was unequal, for it is justly said ' that he 
that has his quarrel just is thrice doubly armed.' 
Many members of the old church said the discipline 
was wrong and pressed a change, so the good old 
church was pressed on every side. 

The discipline was changed, the old rule against 
whiskey and slavery was restored, the powers of the 
bishops and ministers were modified, lay delegation in 
the law making power conceded, which left the Wes- 
leyans nothing to complain of, or hinder the M. E. 
church to march forward triumphantly in their spir- 
itual conquest. A convention of ministers and lay 
delegates (of which I was one) was held by the Wes- 
leyans at Adrian, Michigan, to take action in relation 
to continuing the seceding church. Luther Lee arose 
and in his solemn, logical manner said; ' Were I called 
to-day up to the court of Heaven to render up my ac- 
count I know of no good reason I could give why I 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 335 

should longer be separated from the M. E. church.' 
Cyrus Prindle in his honest simplicity said: 'I left the 
church for good reasons and as those reasons are re- 
moved if I was honest then, the same convictions of 
duty would require me to return.' Matlock and others 
hold the same views. What my convictions were are 
recorded in the published proceedings so I will not re- 
peat them; but it is enough to say that b}^ almost an 
unanimous vote it was determined that there no long- 
er existed a necessity of continumg a separate Metho- 
dist organization as it had fulfilled its mission. Most 
of the sterling Methodists stepped into the open door 
of the old church and received a C'hristian brotherly 
welcome. In 1858 John Peate was sent as our preacher. 
Under his preaching began a great revival, the church 
arose to its former power and efficiency, slavery and 
whiskey as before stated were banished from the church 
and all were free to speak in thunder tones against all 
sin! I will here do justice to a class of men 1 have 
before noticed, moral heroes; who in the church at risk 
of ostracism, bore testimony against its sin, whose 
noble daring shielded them until they saw the tri- 
umph of their cause and the purification of their be- 
loved church. Such were the Rev. John Peate, J. E. 
Chapin and others, and even J, J, Steadman regretted 
his persecution of the ^yesleyans and turned his pow- 
erful intellectual guns against those evils. Many of 
the Wesleyans had come back and the church in- 
creased in numbers and power after the return of Pesate." 
"For many years the church, after its early organ- 
ization in EUicott, worshipped in school houses and 
other places on the circuit, sometimes in barns, but in 
1827 and 1828 preparations were made to erect a church 
at the junction of Second and Cliandler streets. It 



336 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

was raised in 1829 and in the years 1830 and 1831 it 
was enclosed with loose boards, with seats on blocks. 
The church was 40x50, without porch or steeple, fin- 
ished and dedicated in 1832. In 1836 a gallery was 
put in on the west end — in 1842 a basement was put 
under it. The church has since been elarged, and in 
1854 an addition was made on the west end Avith a 
tower and hall and an ante room above it. In 1865 
and 1866 the audience room was lengthened 20 feet on 
the east end and great improvements made within. 
In 1884 it became too small to accommodate the con- 
gregation, and the present beautiful edifice decided 
upon. The old building was sold, and is now owned 
and occupied by the Independent C'ongregationalists. 

"I will leave further notice to go back and speak of 
some of the persons who have been pillars in the 
church from the beginning. The first was Edward 
Work, .one of the first members. He continued to la- 
bor for the church for many j'ears after the class at 
Worksburg was removed to Jamestown, supported it 
liberally, was considered the "father of the church." 
He died at his old home, was a humble Christian, died 
as he had lived in full faith in his beloved Saviour. 
When he lay dying he asked who was singing so 
sweetly up stairs? They told him no one. He said 
with much animation, " Don't you hear it? The 
sweetest music I ever heard," and left to listen to the 
still sweeter anthems in heaven of winch his spirit had 
iust caught an echo. 

To Lyman Crane the church owes much of its 
prosperity, and it goes without speaking that for many 
years he seemed to be the soul of its existence. Pie 
seemed to live for the church and to have no other bus- 
in ss but to serve his Lord and Master. Mighty in 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 337 

pra^^er and exhortation he would sway a congregation 
who would follow him with no discount of feeling, for 
his life spoke louder in favor of religion than his voice 
from the stand on Sabbath, by his godly example 
through the week. Whenever a reviler of religion 
said that its professors were all hypocrites, they were 
silenced by pointing to Father Crane. I can in fancy 
see him now with one of his benevolent smiles which 
told of a happy heart within. All of his surplus earn- 
ings was devoted to the church, which owes so much 
to him, I visited him on his death bed and on my 
speaking of what he had done he replied, "I have no 
regrets for what I have done but that I could do no 
more." * The church for a number of years has in- 
creased in numbers and influence through the faithful 
labors of its ministers, and the godly examples of its 
members, until it stands second in number and spirit- 
uality to none of its sister churches, I have compiled 
this history with much care and labor as no public 
records appear until 18S5. In early days the preach- 
ers kept and carried them in his saddle bags with his 
library as he ranged the country to gather up the "lost 
sheep of the house of Israel. In addition to what Mr. 
Bishop has so kindly said for us we deem it due this 
church as well as to the village of Jamestown that we 
speak of Alonzo Kent's relation to it, for what is true of 
him in this connection, has been and is true of one or 
two in each of the other churches from their earliest 
organization, up to the present time. Perhaps the one 

* Mr. Bishop has inadvertently omitted the name of one who 
should always be remembered as one of the most faithful workers in 
the early days of the Methodist church in Jamestown. In zeal, and 
as a constant and faithful worker no one stood hij^her than Anna 
Cheney, the first wife of Dr. E. T. Foote. 



338 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

or two in the other churches have not held their pe- 
culiar positions quite as long as Mr, Kent has in the 
Methodist, we therefore choose him as an exemplar of 
a small class of men in our community, and perhaps 
to a certain extent in all communities. 

About the year 1840, during this great quarrel so 
iustly spoken of by Mr. Bishop, and after the choir had 
vacated their seats, and the bass viol had been carried 
out of the church, the preacher found himself 
placed where prompt action was necCvSsary. It is 
truly wonderful how great a blaze a little fire can kin- 
dle,_ especially in a church and particular!}^ in a church 
choir. The Methodist preacher was a good leader. He 
knew that Mr. Kent, who at that time generally at- 
tended the Presbyterian church, was a good singer, and 
could, if he would, soon educate a new choir who would 
prove steadfast supporters of the old church and would 
not turn kickers when something occurred that did not 
accord with their notions. He applied to Mr. Kent in 
a manner to arouse his warmest sympathies, and he 
went over and organized and drilled a choir and re- 
mained with them a long time as their leader. When 
he was willing to go they would not permit it. He re- 
mained and became strongly attached to his choir and 
finally to those by whom he had been for so long a 
time surrounded. He found that he was attached to 
that society, he sympathized with them in their 
troubles, and e'er long became a necessary part and 
parcel of the Methodist church so far as their worldly 
interests were concerned. He was always a free and 
liberal giver, and wheiiever he found them in a finan- 
cial strait or difficulty he gave freely and on certain 
occasions most bountifull3\ It finally came to this, 
that he virtualh^ said to them, raise all you can, give 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 339 

liberally youselves, and I will attend to the balance. 
This we are informed has been the condition of affairs 
in that church for nearly iifty years, Tlieir financial 
motto has been, "We must do all we can, — give liber- 
ally ourselves, — Kent does the rest." It is not wonder- 
ful, that tliat church is attached to Alonzo Kent, or 
that Alonzo Kent feels that that church is, as it were, 
the apple of his eye. He is, and as long as he lives 
will continue to be, one of its tixtures, a part of its 
furniture, as much so as the grand organ they placed 
in their beautiful new church a few months ago. And 
we freely write our belief that the Rev. Dr. W. G. 
Williams would never have entered upon that surpris- 
ing church building undertaking without the advice 
and direct encouragement of Alonzo Kent; — without it 
that splendid edifice would never have been built. 
After that society had seemingly given to their ut- 
most and Alonzo Kent had aided most liberally, when 
the day for dedication came, they found themselves in 
debt over '20,000 dollars. Rev. Dr. Flood with all of 
his persuasiveness and extra pleading would never 
have raised that vast amount if he had not said, "I 
will give $1000, Mr. Kent will you give still another 
thousand dollars?" When the reply was "I will," Dr. 
Flood knew that the fire which was to burn out that 
debt was kindled. It was a glorious ending of a grand 
undertaking. We would be proud to possess a photo- 
graphic group with Dr, Williams as the head and 
Alonzo Kent as the feet, with the three learned doc- 
tors. Flood, Vincent and Peate, sandwiched between, 
as the body of this great Methodistical j^ower in James- 
town. We know of similar cases in the past history of 
churches in this town, smaller amounts to be sure, 
but full as grievous to be borne. And we know to-day 



340 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

of another man with good aids, in another church, 
who is doing a similar work. Such churches will 
surely prosper, they can never fail as earthly organi- 
zations at least, for their foundations are granite. 

At the last meeting of the Methodist church in 
their old house, Dr. Peate in closing the service, spoke 
as follows: "■ The church has had a good many 
friends outside of its members, but I never met with as 
true a friend as Alonzo Kent. I never knew an out- 
sider so true and constant. I wish we had more like 
him in the congregation. I make these remarks, be- 
cause he is not here to-night; and I miss him, for he 
is always in his place. I like to see him here and I 
expect to meet him in Heaven." From all parts of 
the house, came the loud, hearty, feeling Amen! Both 
the preacher and his congregation held in true estima- 
tion the man's acts. If this is not the true estimate, if 
it is not by a man's acts that he is to be finally judged, 
churches can be of little use to human beings. What- 
ever views man may entertain of the present and its 
relations to the future, he has ncA^er been able to sep- 
arate life from religion. The one is as diffusive as the 
other, worship of a Supreme Being as necessary as the 
air he breathes. In his most uncultivated tlioughts, 
mortal life suggests immortal being; the finite leads 
him to the infinite. It is the main spring of exis- 
tence. It is as easy to believe that the trees and the 
flowers in the spring time could put forth their leaves 
and unfold their painted glories without looking up 
to the sun for his warmth and light, as that man will 
continue in life and health unaided by a superior. In- 
telligent Power. Religion is the animating spirit of 
all man accomplishes here. Whether our reason ad- 
mits it or denies it, our spirits affirm it. It is as natur- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 341 

al for man to worship as to breathe. As his intelligence 
increases, the higher is the intelligence he A^orships, 
As his greater knowledge teaches him the wonders of 
mortality, greater becomes his faith in immortality. 
The gods or the God he worships increase in intelli- 
gence, knowledge and powder with himself until at last 
he worships the one only Ever-living God — not a God 
he has created, according to Ingersoll, but a God he 
sees behind all the wonders his knowledge reveals to 
him — God his creator. Is it not strange that some of 
our most learned men, theologians as well as scientists, 
would have us transfer our worship from this Infinite 
Being our intelligence and our knowledge points out, 
to a microscopic mite oi ]q]\n , protoplasm they call it, 
with an unintelligent force, the know not what., in or 
he/iind I e know not which. Whether we follow the 
Old Theology, with God a special creator, and man 
the immediate and especial work of His hand, or the 
New" Theology w'ith God the creator of a clam or 
something less, and that evolving into that wonderful 
scientific humbug, the "anthropoid ape," who after 
thousands of years of "monkey shines," forces himself to 
stand erect and cast his gaze heavenward — after all, 
the great gap remains between the known and the un- 
known, the finite and the infinite, between. God and 
man. Whether our Creator is an evolver or a maker, 
the Bible alone makes the only pretension or effort to 
fill the immense gap remaining. We do not know 
whether Adam and Eve were evolved out of a monkey 
or were the immediate handiwork of God, but we do 
know that the Old Theology, the old cliurches and the 
old ministers filled a glorious place in the early his- 
tory of Jamestown, and we sincerely trust the time is 
far distant when Materialism and its vmhi hand Evol- 



342 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

ution, with its protoplasm and apes, gains a large 
hearing in the churches of the Pearl City. We think 
that anyone leaning heavil}^ towards the ape theory 
•of his origin may be thorougly cured by reading a 
work entitled, Matter, Life and Mind, by Rev. Dr. 
Moore, who was formerly a preacher in the old Metho- 
dist church of Jamestown. We contend we are not 
over stepping the bounds of truth — of a chain of facts 
linked one with another — when we broadly state that 
that wonderful Chautauqua at old Fair Point on the 
beautiful banks of beautiful Chautauqua lake, would 
never liave existed but for the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Jamestown. Truth sometimes is far more 
wonderful than the fairy tales of romance. In 1869 
Rev. H. H. Moore, a green young man (in appearance) 
who had not been quite two years in the i^reaching 
'business was sent to Jamestown to assist Rev. E. J. L. 
Baker (the writer's room-mate at college) in his pas- 
toral duties. During the summer of that year he 
spent a week or more at a camp meeting at Round 
lake, studying the situation — having in view the es- 
tablishment of a similar affair somewhere on Chau- 
tauqua lake. Returning from Round lake he attend- 
ed another meeting of a similar kind at Dayton, in 
Cattaraugus County. At Dayton Moore brought the 
subject before the presiding elder, Rev. J. Elliott 
Chapin, which resulted in the appointment of a com- 
mittee to seek out a proper location on the lake for a 
permanent Camp Meeting ground. Fair Point was 
selected and 50 acres purchased for $10,000. Here 
again Alonzo Kent's purse became very useful and 
made the purchase possible. One or two camp meet- 
ings had been held on the grounds when Rev. Dr. 
Vincent and Mr. Miller came along and wanted the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 343 

beautiful camp meeting grounds of Moore and Chapin 
and Kent and of the Jamestown Methodist Episcopal 
church for another but allied purpose. Believing that 
it would advance the cause for which they were all la- 
boring they surrendered. The Matter of Fair Point 
had been thoroughly organized by these L^f<i giving 
substances, and made ready for the great 31) nd which 
was destined to inhabit and rule all — Independent of 
human organisms, the work of the Almighty — never 
has Matter, Life and Mind been more happily blend- 
ed, than in Chautauqua. 

THE MOKMONS IN .JAMESTOWN. 

Notwithstanding the length of this chapter, it still 
devolves upon us to write concerning the Baptists and 
Episcopalians, and, we are sorry to say, of the Mor- 
mons. We will perform the disagreeable part of our 
task first. Tliere are but few now living in this Pearl 
City aware that many 3^ears ago, for a short time only, 
this was one of the headquarters, a gathering place 
preparatory to a removal to Kirkland, Ohio, of that re- 
ligious parasite, Mormonism. At one time there were 
nearly cOO of them here, although the general belief 
was that tliere were less than 100 in all. They were 
then preparing to occupy their newly discovered land 
of promise, and their policy was to conceal their nuna- 
bers, and not to make a display. The vanguard put in 
an appearance in May, 1833, and immediately occu- 
pied a number of indifferent houses on Third street 
west of Jefferson street. These houses iiad. been rented 
by tlieir advance agent, William Barker, carl}' in 
March. Barker liad charge of the Jamestown rendez- 
vous, altliougli Rigdon himself was frequently here. 
This Rigdon, wiio subsequently became one of the 
high apostles of the concern, was one of the arch devils 



344 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

that aided ignorant Jo. Smith to start this humbug 
in Ontario count^^ He had been a Baptist minis- 
ter, but as such had been noted for qualities bet- 
ter fitting him as a teacher in the Mormon iniquity 
than for a Christian minister. Whether Rigdon or 
Spaulding or some one else wrote the Book of Mormon 
is a matter of slight importance, but he had the educa- 
tion, the smartness, the love of deceit, and all the other 
devilish qualities of head and heart, to make him one 
of the best men in the world for such an undertaking. 
He was present with Jo., or more correctly, we think, 
Jo. with him, when the angel gave to Jo. the golden 
plates of Nephi in the presence of Cowdrey, Whitman 
and Harris. In 1833 he was a fine appearing, pleasant 
spoken, agreeable man. and made several friends 
among the unbelievers of Jamestown. Barker was a 
mean looking chap, and was meaner than he looked ; 
disagreeable in person, harsh and low in speech, igno- 
rant and as thoroughly contemptible as bigotr}'- and 
zeal could make him. He was a man who had never 
known ought of the laws of kindness, or the luxury of 
doing good. In his whole body and soul there was not 
the first particle of love or charity or human kind- 
ness. He was a fit person to be a leader of Mormon- 
ism, in which he most thoroughly believed. Rigdon 
drew a general order on Judge Prendergast to supply 
all Mormons with flour or feed, "^he individual orders 
to be countersigned by Wm. Barker. Judge Prender- 
gast from time to time drew his drafts on the bank of 
Kirkland, Ohio, which were promptly paid. They had 
frequent religious exercises and preaching, generally 
we think in the street in front of their dwellings. Dur- 
ing this Mormon exodus and occupation of West 
Jamestown, the small pox broke out m one of the Mor- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 345 

mon houses. At that time the " peculiar people" did 
not allow the ministrations of physicians, depending 
on the power and efficiency of prayer to cure all dis- 
eases. A Jamestown convert to the faith believing the 
case to be small pox privately informed Dr. Hazeltine. 
A town counsel was held and the trustees sent Dr. Ha- 
zeltine and Dr. Stephen I. Brown,of Busti, to examine. 
With difficulty they performed their mission and re- 
ported genuine small pox. Then commenced the 
Jamestown Mormon war. They not only were deter- 
mined that the physicians should not visit the patients, 
but they would allow no white flags or signs, warning 
citizens of the pestilence within the houses. The phy- 
sicians found it impossible to visit the patients and 
declared that it would be useless if they could, for no 
one would administer medicines. The citizens con- 
tented themselves with putting a fence across Third 
street at Lafayette, and another near the beatlanding, 
and interdicting the denizens of this Gomorrah coming 
into the town. A few who tried to travel eastward oh 
Third street beyond Lafayette speedily returned com- 
plaining of headache. The arch fiend himself. Bar- 
ker, tried it, fainted by tlie way, and lay in the street 
near Lafayette until carried back by some ef his clan- 
It was never judicially decided whether he fainted or 
ran against a hickory cane in the hands of " Big Sim- 
mons," the watchman. The last of the Mormons left 
Jamestown in the spring of 1834. They made very few 
converts here, but among them was John Fent, author 
of Fent's Arithmetic, and family, and J. Sanford Hol- 
man, the blacksmith before mentioned, and his wife. 
Holman was a good citizen and a loss to the village. 
The Mormons were quite welcome to all else they took 
away from Jamestown. Worn out by frequent mov- 



340 THE EARLY HISTOllY OF 

ings and fatigue, Holman died at Council Bluffs on his 
way to Salt Lake cit}^ 



BAPTISTS. 

The first Baptist to settle in Jamestown so far as 
the recollection of the oldest inhabitant extends orcan 
sa}^ to the contrary, was John C. Breed, -' the deacon,"' 
as he was familiarly known. When this chapter was 
written Mr. Breed was alive and well, but a few days 
ago he passed away. See chapter six. John C. Breed 
came to Jamestown in .January, 1822, an unusually 
proper, good-looking young man. His influence upon 
the young people of that period was very happy, prob- 
ably because they had not been accustomed to find 
true piety and so large a share of health, strength and 
good looks combined in the same person. He was a 
constant attendant and took an active part in the 
meetings at Prendergast academy, foi'at that time there 
were no other meetings to attend. E'er long he mar- 
ried Olive, a daughter of Solomon Jones, and the 
handsomest girl in town, and the best singer. 

Whether it was through Breed's instrumentality 
we cannot say, but in the fall of 1828 a Sunday-school 
was established, the first in the settlements, at the old 
academy, and he was made the superintendent. There 
were no regular teachers in this Sabbath school. There 
were quite as many adults and church members who 
attended as children, and Mr. Breed would select there- 
from a sufficient number to hear the recitations and to 
report the number of verses each one recited. The 
school was not divided into classes then as now,, each 
class having a selected teacher. It was the duty of 
each scholar to learn as many verses in the testament^ 
commencing with the first chapter of the Gospel of St. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 347 

John, as he could during the week, and these he recited 
to some person appointed to hear them. Each scholar 
was rewarded with tickets according to the number of 
verses recited. These tickets were of different sizes and 
colors according to the number of verses committed to 
memory. For five verses a very small, inferior looking 
ticket was given ; for ten, one a trifle larger ; for twenty, 
a respectable one ; for fifty, a fair sized blue one ; and 
for 100 verses a large sized, good looking red ticket. 
Louisa Jones (Mrs. J. E. Chapin,) and William Deland 
we observed received many red tickets, and we asked 
for one. Mr. Breed replied that when we recited 100 
verses at once we should have one. The next Sunday 
we carried home and exhibited to our delighted mother 
a red ticket, and frequently after that two reds and a 
blue. We doubt very much if we should have received 
as many red tickets as we did, if it had not been for a 
ruse of our fiither. If for any reason we needed pun- 
ishment, we were sentenced according to the enormity 
of our offence, to sit down and not get up until we had 
committed to memory ten, twenty or fifty verses. The 
Sunday-school and our paternal parent made a perfect 
system of rewards and punishments for us. In those 
earl}^ days the entire care and management of the Sun- 
day-school devolved on the superintendent. We pre- 
sume there are no superior superintendents now in the 
Sabbath schools, and we claim that John C, Breed was 
the best ever in Jamestown. He knew just how to talk 
to children, to gain their good will, their love and affec- 
tion. Every one loved John C. Breed, the superin- 
tendent of the first Sabbath school ever taught in this 
town. He has gone where he will be rewarded with 
red tickets. 

The writer's recollection is that there was a Baptist 



348 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

organization here as early as 1825 or '26. He is posi- 
tive that there was one before the Mormon excitement. 
Be that as it ma}^, the Baptist church of Jamestown do 
not claim an organization previous to 1832, according 
to Young's history. During this same year (1832) they 
built a large, good looking barn on the site of their 
present church and called it a meeting house. It 
looked like a barn on the outside, excepting the win- 
dows, but in the inside was comfortable and church- 
like in appearance. The Baptists worshiped in this 
building twenty-five years and then (1857) sold it, and 
it w^as moved awa}'^ for a mechanic's shop. They then 
built the present church-like edifice in which the}^ now 
worship. The Rev. Rufus Pratt was the first settled 
Baptist minister in Jamestown, and he died here April 
2, 1829. The earlier ministers at this church were Da- 
vid Bernard, Asahel Chapin, Rufus Peet, Alfred Handy 
and others. 

A little more than 40 years ago a young man named 
Blakesl}^,*" a student in the Oberlin college, considered 
it his duty to speak upon the crime of slavery during 
his vacation, and came to Jamestown for that purpose. 
He delivered three lectures at the Baptist church. 
Q^'here was great excitement when it was announced 
that there would be a lecture there upon tlie subject of 
slavery. At the conclusion a second lecture was an- 
nounced for the next day. The excitement spread 
like wild fire. He was warned to leave town. Tar, 
feathers, etc.. were plainly spoken of, and if he persist- 
ed, death to the Abolitionist more than hinted at. A 

* In our newspaper article we unaccoiinlablv mixed np our re- 
collections of this person with Prof. Fairchild who became the hus- 
band of Marcia Kellogg, one of Jamestown's most excellent daugh- 
ters. , 



I 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. o49 

third lecture was announced. Jamestown and vicinity 
was never more excited than then. On the afternoon 
of liis last harangue the Baptist church was a danger- 
ous place to be in. The church was crow^ded ; more 
than half present were there for the lecturer's protec- 
tion, but the crowd outside was double and triple of 
that within, gathered from all parts of the country. 
We believe that if some man in that excited crowd 
more crazy than the rest, could have reached the lec- 
turer he would have killed him, and this was pre- 
vented by Hiram Eddy, who, when he left the church 
after the third lecture ran by his side with his right 
hand in his coat collar, and would occasionally give 
him a flying leap ahead of ten feet or more. The 
crowd pressing too hard, Eddy threw the little lec- 
turer over a five-foot garden fence, and as he proved a 
good runner, was in a place of safety before the mob 
had realized what had happened. 

The early Baptists as well as the religious societies 
already mentioned, had their worldly troubles, their 
bickerings and their quarrels. At one time a Baptist 
brotlier, "one that paid," wanted to dismiss their min- 
ister, an eloquent man, because he was not " edicated." 
A quarrel and a dismissal followed. The Baptists have 
had some very unhaj^py quarrels and more than one 
unhapp3' minister. But such devoted Christians and 
eloquent preachers as Bernard, Chapin, Wells and 
Haughwout cover a multitude of short comings. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

Young's history states that the Episcopal church 
of Jamestown was organized in 1853. St. Luke's church 
of Jamestown was organized and wardens and vestry- 
men chosen previous to the writer's leaving home for 
college which was in 1833. How long previous we can- 



350 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

not state. We believe aljout two years. But the soci- 
ety was too poor to build a church or even to hire a 
clergyman. In 1853 a few friends of the church, the 
writer one of them, were seriously talking of hiring a 
clergyman. They wanted church services for their 
fathers and mothers, wives and sisters, if not for them- 
selves. One evening Wm. F. Wheeler and Wra. H. 
Lowry, going home to tea, happened to meet John M. 
Grant, Smith Seymour, and the writer, at the corner of 
Main and Third streets, and they had a conversation 
concerning hiring the basement of the academy and 
fitting it up for church services. While they were talk- 
ing their friend, the Rev. Mr. Blinn, came along and 
inquired, " Boys, what mischief are you at now ?" 
The writer replied, " Do you see the old Fletcher place 
up there ? We are going to buy that and build thereon 
a church that will knock the spots off your Presbyter- 
ian churcli down there." "Good for you," savs Blinn; 
•*do so and I will come and be 3^our priest, and permit 
me to give you this as the first donation towards the 
church," at the same time handing me an old fash- 
ioned copper cent. This was all pleasant badinage be- 
tween friends; We were all sincere friends of Mr. 
Blinn and he of us. He thought nothing wrong and 
meant nothing wrong. Mr. Wheeler held up his hand 
and made oath that within two years that penny 
should be deposited in the corner stone of an Episcopal 
church in Jamestown,, and turning to his four compan- 
ions said — -"as I swear so swear you all." They an- 
swered in the affirmative. Blinn then remarked, "I 
fear we have been njaking lig"ht of serious things ; and 
I will now say if you can build a church on the strength 
of that penny, you are doubly welcome to it and I bid 
you God speed." This is very near the conversatio]i. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT, 351 

That evening seven of us subscribed $500 each for 
building- a church, and the next day the amount was 
nearly doubled. Blinn's cent was the main argument 
used in obtaining subscribers. At noon the next day 
we were owners of the lots on which the church and 
parsonage are built, Mr. Tew having conveyed them to 
us to be used for that especial purpose. The Rev. Levi 
W. Norton was shortly engaged as rector, the basement 
of the academy was rented and prepared for church 
services, and all the friends of the church were happy, 
none more so than our friend the Rev. Mr. Blinn. The 
church was erected the next season, and the copper 
cent with its history well engraved, deposited in the 
corner stone. A few years afterwards the church was 
burned. The contents of the box in the corner stone 
were not injured, and were, penny included, deposited 
in the corner stone of tlie present structure. 

In our last conversation with Mr. Blinn lie said, 
^' You fellows to whom 1 gave the penn}^ have done 
well. I wish I could invest another penm^ that would 
yield a like increase." 

Jamestown has now many churches, how many 
we do not know. Since the time above spoken of we 
have gained a large Swede population. Among 
them are several church organizations and they have 
already erected four respectable churches, and now I 
understand another is spoken of. We have also gained 
a large and respectable Irish addition to our popula- 
tion, mostly Roman Catholic. A large church edifice 
at present is sufficient for their church needs. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The Bad Districts — Whipping the School Master 
— Log School Houses — First Schools in James- 
town — Thos. Walkup and the Bird Nest Rob- 
bers — Pine Street School House — Early 
Teachers — Juty Smith — Old Put Takes a Ride 
— The Academy — Its Teachers and Pupils — 
The Jamestown Academy. 

A few evenings ago after a half hour spent in dil- 
igent writing concerning our early schools and school- 
masters, we laid our pad of paper aside, to allow our 
little pond of remembrances to fill up again. We have 
with sufficient accuracy ascertained tliat our reservoir 
for thoughts is quite thorouglily drained by an hour's 
active use of the pencil. We soon fell into a deep re- 
verie over what were called the hard districts of those 
early times. Districts in which besides the troop of 
children, were, in some localities, perhaps a dozen lAg 
unruly boys, with well developed muscles, full of 
strength and fight, and double the number oihalfhig 
ones, boys of 13 or 14 years of age, but as stout and 
surly and as full of mischief and undeveloped strength 
as little mules. In these districts tlie first thing to be 
done at the commencement of each winter's school, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 353 

was to break all rules and whip the school master. It 
took the stoutest, dotille hreasted fellows in the coun- 
try to manage one of these schools, and teachers for 
them were quite as frequentl}'^ chosen for their bodily- 
strength as for their mental qualifications; and even 
such were quite as frequently thoroughly whipped, 
thrown out into the road, and then pelted with mud, 
or snow balls, until finally.glad to beat a rapid retreat 
not stoppijig until the confines of the district were 
reached. This disposition to whip the school master 
we find was no new thing; it did not originate in the 
settlements, or in this country, or in this age. This is 
proven by a case related by an old Latin author over 
two thousand years ago which we translate into verse 
as best we can for our edification. It strikes us as be- 
ing appropriate, and descriptive of the condition of 
things- in the bad district of sixty years ago: 

Once the master was obeyed and feared 

Till youth was wise and fit to govern— but now 

Wlieu he admonishes a child of only seven years. 

The brat hurls the tablets at his head. 

You to his father go and make complaint, 

And what redress is given? 'Tis this: 

"Ah-ha! old bum-bruiser. 

My boy you find, can, himself defend, 

Spank him if you deem best — and can." 

This is the solace given; you 

Lop your ears in silence, sueak away, 

And next are «een 

With cracked pate bcplastered— and face bepatched 

Like an ill-used paper lantern. 



EARLY SCHOOLS OF ELLICOTT. 

Among the many comforts and advantages to 
which the early inhabitants of Jamestown were in- 
debted to Judge James Prendergast, were the extra ac- 



354 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

commodations for schools, and the superior school 
teachers he bestowed upon them from 1S14 to 1822 at 
his own cost. He set a high value upon education 
and as the early settlers at the rapids, having children 
of a proper age to attend school, were too poor to fur- 
nish either school-room or teacher, he furnished both, 
and insisted strenuously, that all children between the 
ages of six and fifteen should be sent to school, which 
he made free to all without reference to age. The 
first schools taught here were attended by several over 
twenty-five years of age, who then for the first time 
learned to read and write. The school rooms provid- 
ed by Judge Prendergast for these schools were first 
class for those times and the teachers collegiates. 

The first school houses in the town of Ellicott, out 
of Jamestown, as well as in other parts of the county 
were like the settlers' dwellings, built of logs. A log 
school house was easily distinguished from a dwelling 
by not being as high, as no sleeping room, reached by 
a ladder, was necessary upon an upper floor, and also 
by the shape of the windows. The writer during the 
winter 1825-26 lived with his grandfather in Busti and 
attended the school — over a mile distant, taught by an 
uncle of his, in one of these log school houses. The 
writing desk for the larger scholars was along one end 
and about one-half of each of the sides. This was 
nothing more than a shelf made with wide boards sup- 
ported by long pins driven into auger holes in the 
logs. ' Just above this desk were four long windows 
only two or three glass high, one on each side and 
two at the end. The seats were trees, split in two and 
made tolerably smooth by hewing, with pins driven 
into the lower rounded sides for legs. A row of these 
were placed before the desks. Through the center of 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 355 

the room were several of these long slab benches, all 
without backs, for the smaller scholars. In the other 
end of the building was the big Dutch fire place, the 
hearth of which was the ground, and this piled full of 
logs four feet long or more kept the place sufficiently 
warm. Between the front benches and the fire was 
the master's table, and a bolt sawed from a big maple 
tree by the side of the table was the dunce block. If 
a scholar large or small, male or female, was so dull or 
inattentive as not to get his or her lesson, the dullard's 
head was ornamented with a tall, pyramidal paper 
cap, leather spectacles were tied over the eyes and were 
then politely conducted to and placed on this block by 
two school mates of the opposite sex. Without excep- 
tion, it was great fun for the scholars to see this exhi- 
bition; the one on the block looked so droll, so queer, 
so verily like a fool, that every one laughed at his ex- 
pense, and the blockhead appeared to think he was a 
fool, and would willingly exchange his place for half a 
dozen sound floggings. At least, so it appeared to us, 
for we were never placed there ourself, we had a 
wholesome dread of it from the beginning and worked 
dilligently at our lessons, and, perhaps, our uncle had 
a little regard for our feelings. The punishment of 
the dunce block was reserved for those who were neg- 
ligent in learning their lessons, and we believe that if 
it had been retained at least for tiiese cases, it would 
have proved the greatest spur to diligence among all 
the forms of punishment that have yet been invented. 
The beech and the birch, the switch and the gad, 
were reserved for the more flagrant breach of school 
and moral law. And our own observation and re- 
membrance is, that the thorougly bad boy would pre- 
fer a flogging that would place him hors de combat for 



356 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

a week, than to spend one hour on the dunce block. 

The first scliool ever taught in Jamestown was 
during the fall and winter of 1S14 and 1815, in the 
north room of the Blowers house before mentioned. 
The teacher was the Rev. Amasa West who received 
his education at Williams College and who was the 
first minister who resided here. There attended this 
school seven children and irregularly three or four 
adults. Wm. H. Fenton, the present patriarch of 
Jamestown, and Seneca, his brother, and Rebecca, his 
sister, (Mrs. Abram Jones) still living, and Alexander 
T. Prendergast, all were pupils in this first school. 
The school commenced the first of December and con- 
tinued four months. 

As the Blowers house had been sold to Dr. Hazel- 
tine and the Academy building not completed, in fact 
at this time the frame was not up, Judge Prendergast, 
with rough boards, partitioned off a room in the cot- 
ton factory for a school, and Abner Hazeltine, who but 
a short time previous had graduated at Williams Col- 
lege and was expected to arrive at the rapids in No- 
vember, was, through Dr. Laban Hazeltine, engaged 
as teacher. Abner Hazeltine opened his school soon 
after his arrival in November and continued it for five 
months. Seventeen children and eleven "large schol- 
ars" attended this school. Alexander T. Prendergast 
commenced the study of Latin; Phineas Palmiter, 
Plinny Cass, two daughters of Horatio Dix, Alex. T. 
Prendergast, and occasionally others made the first 
class in English grammer ever taught in Jamestown. 
This class had a ^^jxirsrng school" once a week in the 
evening, which was generally attended by Judge 
Prendergast, Dr. Hazeltine, Deacon Dix and others. 
Several came from what are now the towns of Kian- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 357 

tone and Busti to these parsing schools. As many as 
could were expected to bring a Murray's grammar* 
Murray's English reader, Milton's Paradise Lost and a 
tallow candle, otherwise the parsing school was free to 
all who were sufficiently advanced in knowledge of 
English grammar to take a part. There attended 
these parsing schools some as finished grammarians as 
could be found in any country. This, the second 
school taught in the settlement, took the name of 
Prendergast's Academy. That name was given to it by 
Abner Hazeltine; first, because the Judge paid the 
teacher; second, on account of the imposing building 
in which the school was taught and lastly because of 
this parsing school and because Ihe Junto called it 
A. B. Ahs Academy. It became the regular name of 
the Jamestown school during the three seasons it was 
taught by Abner Hazeltine, and the select schools 
taught in the village up to the advent of John Foster 
Allen in the year 1830, then the " Prendergast " was 
dropped and The Academy was spoken of; after- 
wards under Lysander Farrar as the "Jamestown 
Academy." In the fall and winter of 181G and 1817 
Abner Hazeltine taught in Keyes's shop chamber, it 
having been found difficult to heat the room in the 
cotton factory with any appliances then on hand. 
Prendergast's new academy building, the ^'old acad- 
erm/' frequently spoken of in these papers, became use- 
able in the fall of 1817, and Abner Hazeltine's third 
and last school w^as taught therein in the winter of 1817 
and '18. The building was especially erected as a 
place for religious services, for at a meeting at Dr. 
Hazeltine's house at which were present Judge Prend- 
ergast, Dr. Hazeltine, Abner Hazeltine, Daniel Hazel- 
tine and Jacob Fenton and others, held a few days af- 



358 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ter the organization of the Congregational Church, it 
was represented to Judge P. that there was no place 
for meetings but at the taverns, which were inconven- 
ient and inappropriate, and as he had declared his in- 
tention of putting up a building for that purpose and 
that as the timber for the same had been got out the 
year previously and was on the ground and par- 
tially framed b}^ Deacon Dix and Ebenezer Sherwin, 
they asked him to put up the frame and enclose a por- 
tion of it that it might be used for meetings. Judge 
Prendergast replied that he had expected that Captain 
Dix would have completed the building the fall pre- 
vious, but work for Cass prevented; that both Dix and 
Sherwin were then engaged on Freeman's house and 
Pier and Freeman's hat factory. If any one could be 
found to do the work he would put up and enclose the 
building immediately. That it w^as not necessary to 
go to the taverns; they could use the academy room 
in Keyes's shop. He did not believe there was dan- 
ger of its breaking down as some believed. No one 
was found to engage in the putting up of the building 
until the next year. Israel Knight, a builder who 
came to the rapids in 1815 and who was then engaged 
in putting up a building for John Frank inBusti, took 
the job for early the next season but did not com- 
mence work before midsummer. The first school 
taught therein was by Abner Hazeltine in the fall and 
winter of 1817 and '18. The school in the fall of 1819 
was a writing and grammar school taught in Keyes's 
shop chamber by a Mr. Flack who made the teaching 
of writing and grammar a specialty. * Many more 

* Fitty years ago and more Grammar Schools were common 
and there was a class of men who wandered through the country 
teaching them and generally they were well patronized. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 359 

adults attended this school than those under twenty- 
years of age. This was the first school taught in 
Jamestown for which Judge Prendergast did not pay 
every cent of the teacher's wages and he paid three- 
fourths of this. The school in 1820 was expected to 
be taught by Abraham Hazeltine (the late Dr. Abraham 
Hazeltine) but before the school commenced, a young 
man named Austin Nelson, a graduate of Hamilton 
College, came in, and desiring some occupation during 
the fall and winter, Hazeltine permitted Nelson to take 
his place. This school commenced early in the fall 
and was taught in the Prendergast Academy. In the 
fall of that year an epidemic of typhus fever broke out 
in Jamestown of which several died. Nearly every 
member of Solomon Jones's large family had this 
fever but all recovered. Nelson after teaching a short 
time also took the fever and died and the school was 
abandoned. In 1821 Thomas Walkup was employed to 
teach a sum-mer and a fall and winter term of school 
in the academy, Judge Prendergast paying tw^o-thirds 
of the teacher's wages and furnish wood wdiich was 
near at hand on Fifth street between Main and Cherry. 
Much of the wood was cut by the large scholars and 
drawn to the academy by the smaller boys on their 
hand sleds. The wood cut was three to four feet long 
and burned in an enormous fire place. In those days 
there were several large, heavy hand sleds in town and 
many families cut and drew their own wood. No 
one would have to go far from his own door to find the 
best of wood which he was welcome to if he would cut 
and haul it away. True, in places the pine trees were 
cut out, but tlie hard wood and underbrush remained. 
Where the pine was cut out a heavy growth of pine 
bushes soon sprang up, in some places so dense that it 



360 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was impossible to get through them. These bushes 
grew very rapidly and soon became of large size. In 
an early day the pine lands were 'considered almost 
valueless for farming purposes. If a person wanted a 
farm he would make for the beech and maple in Busti, 
or the oak and chestnut lands north and west from 
the rapids. Then the idea was, that not only the pine 
land was poor, but that the labor and expense of get- 
ting out the pine stumps, would be double the value of 
the land. But farmers were not long in learning that 
the pine lands were the best and as soon as the lands 
were really needed, Yankee invention rid the land 
of stumps in short order. Their value for fences more 
than half repaid their removal. The big pine stumps 
which would never decay, and which for many years 
they had no adequate appliances for pulling, helped 
to sell the lighter frosty soils of the beech and maple 
sections of the country. 

Thomas Walkup had the honor of being the 
writer's second teacher; his mother was the first. She 
had thoroughly learned him his a, b, c's, his a, b, abs, 
the words in three letters, and those in two sylables, 
from haker to vocal in Webster's old spelling book, be- 
fore he ever saw Thomas Walkup and his icatch and 
his fnvitch. 

We never thought it quite right, Ezra Jones and our- 
self,* and we vowed that we would never forgive Walk up, 
and if we lived to be big enough would whip hhn, for 
that switching he gave us, the first we received at 
school. There was an upturned pine stump precisely 
where Harmis Willard erected his residence in 1823 



* Rev. Ezra Jones, son of Solomon Jone«, now resides in Lan- 
sing, Mich. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 361 

and which for inaii}'^ years was the residence of the 
kite Charles Butler on the northwest corner of Main 
and Fourth streets. Among the roots of that stump, 
partially concealed by a few tufts of grass and wild 
flowers was a nest containing four beautiful speckled 
eggs. We thought there was no harm in taking them 
away, we wanted to show them to our mothers, we did 
not know they would break so easily; we did not 
know when the old birds were screaming so pit- 
eously they were begging us to let the eggs alone; 
we did not intend to soil our aprons, and had 
not our mothers washed them when worse soiled 
than they were then? We pleaded innocence and ig- 
norance most eloquently, but all to no avail. We 
were there to be educated, and we got a lesson we have 
never forgotten. "Just as the twig is bent," you know. 
If wc did not then know, we have ever since known, 
that it was wrong to rob a bird's nest. That was sixty 
five years ago, and we seldom if ever pass that house 
without feeling a tingling along up our back and 
down our legs. There is brought up from the deep 
memories of the long ago and placed before our eyes a 
picture. Yes, that is the same old stump, the nest is 
behind that clump of grass ; there are four beautiful 
speckled eggs in it; up there is one of the old birds 
sitting on that high, long root that reaches out towards 
the academy. We seldom see that house when we 
pass it, but we frequently see that old upturned pine 
stump. We sec the nest and the eggs and the 
birds. We see Thomas Walkup and that nice beech 
switch, and we feel it, too. There is one gratifying re- 
membrance. We promised Walkup we would never 
rob another bird's nest as lone: as we lived. We have 



362 ■ THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the satisfaction of believing that this promise has been 
faithfully kept. 

The Pine Street School House was erected by 
subscription in 1822 by the " Junto " opposed to Judge 
Prendergast, the Academy, and the leadership of the 
Congregational church. It occupied the lots on the 
northeast corner of Pine and Fourth streets, now oc- 
cupied by the residence of Sheldon Broadhead. It 
afterwards passed into the hands of the school district 
in which it was situated. It for many years was a 
prominent school house, and the first efforts of the 
Methodists, and also of the Baptists, at separate exis- 
tence, are indissolubly connected with the " old Pine 
street school house." If any preacher, no matter of 
what denomination, or of no denomination, came to 
Jamestown and could not be accommodated at the 
old academy, the door of the "old Pine street" had no 
lock upon it, and he was welcome to enter without even 
asking permission. 

Among the early school teachers here we men- 
tion Richard F. Fenton, Henry Gifford, Elisha Hall, 
Isaac Eddy, Jr., and Orrel Green as the principal ones. 
During the same time at the academy were Rev. Lewis 
C. Todd, Samuel Brown, of AshviUe, and a person 
whose name we cannot recall. These are the princi- 
pal up to the removal of the academy to Fourth street 
in 1829. After its removal, J. Elliott Chapin was the 
teacher of the common school iu the lower room for 
several years. 

Rev. Phillip Smith, said to be a Baptist clergy- 
man, came to Jamestown in 1825 and opened a select 
school in Keyes's shop chamber. This school was the 
last of the series included under the name of Prender- 
gast Academy. Smith was an educated man and a 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 363 

good teacher. He was a small, near-sighted man and 
wore spectacles. He opened and closed each session of 
the school with a short prayer. He had certain set 
forms which he used, a peculiar posture and peculiar- 
ities of pronunciation which provoked the larger boys 
to imitate him, to hisgreat annoyance. One peculiar- 
ity of pronunciation was, that such words as duty and 
dutiful he pronounced as if spelled juty and jutifuL 
Soon in consequence he was nicknamed " Juty Smith" 
and "Old Jutiful," and "Old Spectacles." For this 
disrespect the small boys got floggings, and the larger 
ones lectures on Christian deportment and jvty. Smith 
very soon resorted to the plan of praying with his eyes 
open that he might detect those who mocked him. He 
soon found that this was not practical, for in watching 
his scholars he would forget his prayer and the room 
would be filled with a roar of laughter. He finally re- 
sorted to the plan of kneeling before his chair with his 
back to his unruly scholars, and after a short time the 
disturbance and mocking wliicli had so annoyed him 
ceased. We have in a previous chapter described the 
situation of the Keyes shop — about eight feet below the 
house with the stairs filling this space between the two 
and going up to a wide platform at the west end, from 
which was the door into the schoolroom. 

Silas Southland, who now resides on the lake this 
side of Lakewood, eldest son of Judson Southland who 
was a prominent citizen of Jamestown at an early day^ 
attended this school. Silas was decidedly the fat boy 
of the town. His avoirdupois w^hen ten 3^ears old was 
something tremendous — his diameter seemingly fully 
equalled his length, and his daring fully equalled his 
adipose; he was the butt as well as the pet of the 
school. Frank Waite one day said to him, "Let us see 



364 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

you ride down these stairs on your sled." "No, I guess 
not," says Silas, " I fear it would hurt me. You ride 
down, and if you don't break your neck, I will try it." 
Frank declared that he dare not try it, but thought 
that Silas dare attempt anything. "Well," says Silas, 
"as you own you are a coward, and we all know you 
are, else you would not mock ' Old Juty ' when he is 
praying, I will try it." Laying down on his sled he 
told Frank to give him a start and down he went, head 
foremost, not stopping until he had reached the middle 
of the bridge at the foot of Main street. That day he 
received the name of "Old Put " — a name that clung to 
him for many years, and to the present day for aught 
we know to the contrary. Mr. Southland will pardon 
us for bringing up this incident of his early life. 

Mr. Smith taught a large and most excellent 
school for two years and then left for a more advan- 
tageous situation, we think in Ohio. A Miss Farnham 
then taught the school one term, but the school was 
not a success and she left. At the period we are now 
speaking of many objected to sending their children to 
the district schools, and Mrs. Charles R. Harvey — then 
Miss Rebecca Hayward — was induced to teach a se- 
lect school. After Miss Farnham left, Keyes's shop 
chamber was rented for a billiard saloon, and the first 
billiard tables ever in Jamestown were placed there in 
1828, The second story of Tew's tin and sheet iron 
factory on the southeast corner of Main and Fourth 
streets was secured and made into a school room. In 
this Miss Hayward taught her large and successful 
school. How long it continued we do not just remem- 
ber, but we believe until near the time she was married 
to Col. Charles R. Harvey. 

John Foster Allen, a graduate of Middlebury 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 365 

College, Vt., was sent for and employed as principal of 
Prendergast Academy, to succeed Smith. Judge Foote 
contended that as there was no regular academic or- 
ganization the school should be called a select school; 
at all events it was high time to abandon the affix of 
Prendergast as applied to the scliool as there A'as no 
warrant for it; that Abner Hazeltine had given that 
name to the second school taught in Jamestown under 
peculiar circumstances; that that school was as much 
an academy as a common school, and that as Judge 
Prendergast furnished the school room and paid the 
teacher, it was perfectly correct to call it Prendergast 
Academy or anything else they chose, but to continue 
it longer when the village was paying the teachers, 
would create confusion and trouble, and that it should 
be abandoned. Henry Baker moved that the school 
be continued underthe old name. That he had nearly 
supported 'the schools for fifteen years, and accord- 
ing to his mind Prendergast should be the nama 
of any Academy established here. Elias Haven moved 
it to be called Foote's Academy, and S. A. Brown sug- 
gested that it would be appropriately named if called 
Abner Hazeltine's Cation F^actory Academy. Of course 
every one laughed except Brown. Abner Hazeltine 
enquired if it would be satisfactory to call the new 
school the Jamestown Academy. He was willing to 
compromise on that, although he thought the name 
Prendergast should be retained. Although Mr. Ha- 
vens had given Judge Foote the credit of being fore- 
most in the move for a new Academy, he believed his 
fellow citizens who had been here much longer than 
Mr. Havens, would agree with him in saying that 
Judge Prendergast had done far more than any one 
else in Jamestown for the cause of education. He 



366 THE EARLY HISTOKY OF 

hoped the citizens would not do a wrong now, because 
he had applied the name of Prendergast Academy to 
our first feeble schools. Dr. Foote thought Academy- 
would be shorter and better ; that very soon there 
would be a legal organization with a board of trustees, 
and that the name then probably would be Jamestown 
Acadeni}^, and it would be better not to use that name 
until the legal organization took place. If at that time 
it was thought best to name it after some prominent 
citizen he should not object. He did think that the 
name Prendergast was too long, and that it was best 
to wait until they had a legal organization. On mo- 
tion of S. A. Brown, Esq., it was Resolved, that the 
select school to be taught by John Foster Allen, A. M. in 
the old ncademyhecsiWQd. '''■The J. c'ac/e?;^?/," without any 
affix whatsoever. That it is the sense of this meeting 
that neither the name Prendergast, Foote, Hazeltine's 
Cotton Factory, or any other person, factory or mill, 
shall be affixed to the same until so authorized by a 
board of lawfully appointed trustees. A few only voted, 
and Mr. Brown's resolution was carried by one vote. 
Thus ended in the greatest good humor Prendergast 
academy, which had been in use for fifteen years. 
Miss Frances Bristol, of Dunkirk was made assistant 
teacher. Mr. Allen remained principal for about two 
years, and was then succeeded by James Boutelle, who 
remained until 1835. During the first three years of 
this academy the following young men were fitted for 
college; George T. Stoneman, afterward major general, 
now governor of California; Glenni W. Scofield, now 
judge of the Court of Claims, Washington, D. C. ; Benj. 
W. Whicher, Episcopal minister, is now a Roman 
Catholic; his wife was known to literature as Widow 
Bedott; Zacharia Eddy, son of Rev. Isaac Eddy, now 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 367 

Rev. Dr. Eddy of Michigan; Hiram Eddy, son of Rev. 
Isaac Eddy, now Rev. Dr. Eddy of Connecticut; 
Thomas R. Hazzard, lawyer, settled at Monongehela 
City, dead; Orlando Havens, intended for the ministry, 
dead; Daniel Whicher, afterwards judge of the Su- 
preme Court of Western Virginia, dead; Charles G. Ha- 
zeltine, oldest son of Hon. Abner Hazeltine, professor, 
dead; Ezra Jones, Methodist minister, Lansing, Mich- 
igan; Darwin Dewey, intended for the ministry, dead; 
and the writer, who is privileged to write M. D. after 
his name. Twelve is a very fair number. It com- 
mences wdth names of persons who have a national 
reputation and does not taper immediately to a point 
by any means. Of over half of them Jamestown may 
well be proud. 

Boutelle was the last who taught in the upper 
room of the old academy building, built in 1817 on 
the southwest corner of the lots now occupied by Geo. 
W. Tew, Esq., removed in 1829 to the northeast corner 
of Cherry and Fourth streets, and which after the 
academy had been removed from it was known for 
many years as the "old red school house," and which 
after the erection of the Union school building was 
sold to B. F. Lowaisbery, together with the lots on 
which it stood, and the frame of which to-daj^ consti- 
tutes the frame of the Lownsbery residence. 

Infant School. — In 1832 an infant school was 
established here by a stock company of a number of 
citizens. Trustees were chosen and a lot purchased on 
Fifth street west of Spring street, and a large building 
erected on the corner of Fifth street and the alley. All 
the paraphernalia of an infant school w^ere provided at 
a heavy expense to the projectors. Miss^ Brewster, an 
experienced teaclier. was brought from New York to 



368 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

preside over the affairs of the institution. It was well 
patronized and flourished for about two years and then 
rapidly dwindled into nothingness. Parents soon be- 
came aware that they were ruining the health of their 
infant children for the sake of a little knowledge 
which they ought to gain at home. The building was 
used for the Jamestown academy during the erection 
of the new academy building on the corner of Fourth 
and Spring streets. 

The Quaker Boarding School.- — In 1833 Mrs. 
Mary E. Osborne, a widow lady and a Quakeress, came 
to Jamestown to establish a boarding school. She 
bought property of Gen, Allen on what was then 
known as the Frewsburg road, afterwards as Quaker 
street, and now as Foote's avenue. This purchase was 
on the west side of the street and about ten rods be- 
yond the intersection of Mechanic street. Upon the 
plot of ground here purchased she erected a fair sized 
but very plain building for boarding school pur- 
poses. The next season large additions were found 
necessary, and small additions of cheap buildings 
were made year after j^ear, until the establishment 
had a rambling, peculiar and anything but a neat, 
Quaker-like appearance. Notwithstanding the un- 
inviting appearance of the buildings the school 
there taught was one of a very superior character. 
Teachers of a superior class for the most part were em- 
ployed and young ladies from all sections of the coun- 
try but especially of the state of New York were there 
yearly congregated. The methods of teaching there 
employed were superior to anything the writer had 
ever before met with — more like present methods so 
far as he is acquainted with them. Object teaching 
and by conversations was extensively adopted. If 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 369 

there were any possible means or appliances to illus- 
trate a lesson or fix it in the memory they were at once 
adopted. The question asked was not, whether the 
recitation was perfect, but was the lesson understood. 
Each class read up on, and talked over in familiar 
conversations, each subject presented until it was per- 
fectly understood by the dullest member of the class. 
The teachers for the most part were from abroad. 
Among these probably none ever stood higher than 
the three Misses Dennis. But the teachers changed fre- 
quently ; most of them must have been under prior en- 
gagements before they came, for when their time was 
up they could not be induced to remain longer, and 
were married soon after their leaving. Among the 
home teachers were Miss Clarissa D. Wheeler who sub- 
sequenth^ taught in the Academy and who afterwards 
founded the Jamestown female seminary; Miss Eliza- 
beth Breed, Miss Lucy Fletcher and the writer, who 
was the only male teacher in the establishment and 
was engaged to teach Botany, and to lecture on Physi- 
ology, Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. This 
school was probably the most flourishing from 1836 to. 
1841. 

In 1843 a horrible tragedy was enacted here which 
destroyed the school. Alvin Cornell, brother of Mrs.. 
Osborne, cut his wife's throat and then cut his own.. 
Mrs. Cornell ran from the kitchen into the school 
room and there fell dead. Cornell, although he had 
cut his own throat from ear to ear, severing tlie wind- 
pipe, singularly enough missed the carotid arteries. The 
writer sewed up Cornell's throat and dressed the wound. 
He was left in charge of Justice W. H. Fenton and 
ourself for about three weeks, when we delivered him 
up to the jailor at May ville. He was tried, convicted 



370 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

and sentenced, but his sister clung to him and finally 
induced Governor Wright to commute his punishment 
to imprisonment for life, This horrible affair closed 
the Jamestown Quaker scJiool forever. 

JAMESTOAVN ACADEMY. 

We have considered it our duty to write up the 
schools of Jamestown to the commencement of the 
Union School and Collegiate Institute. The printers 
are now calling for copy and we are compelled to send 
what we have prepared to the press. In excuse M^e 
have this to offer. The subject to us was an extreme- 
ly painful one. There was a severe quarrel about the 
location of the Academy building, it was finally locat- 
ed on the southeast corner of Fourth and Spring 
streets. Lysander Farrar was the first principal, he 
was succeeded by George W. Parker. After Parker, 
Charles G. Hazeltine, eldest son of tlie late Hon. A. 
Hazeltine, had care of the institution until they could 
provide some one else. Edward A. Dickinson was 
finally procured. He was its principal for many years, 
and for a long time was assisted by one of the best of 
teachers, Miss Eliza Kent. 'For over fourteen years 
the writer was intimately connected with the institu- 
tion, but without remuneration. He spent over 11000 
during that period for its benefit. lie Jiad a reivard. 
Two persons well acquainted with all the facts in the 
case promised to write up what to us was a painful 
subject. Each after duly considering the subject de- 
clined. Although we have not at any time intended 
to shirk this duty perhaps it is quite as well that we 
are now compelled to pass it over. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Our Early Merchants, J. & M. Prkndergast — 
Richard Hiller — Silas Tiffany — Jehial Tif- 
fany — Samuel Barrett — Henry Baker — Al- 
viN Plumb — J. E. & S. Budlong — Elisha Hall 
— Wm. H. TE^^-. 



DR. JEDIAH AND MARTIN PRENDERGAST. 

In the spring of 1814 bought one lot of tlu'ir 
brother James on the northwest corner of Main and 
First streets and erected thereon a store 20 b}' 45 feel, 
one and one-half stories in height. The frame was of 
three-inch plank sealed with thin boards in the inside 
and covered with clapboards on the outside. There 
was in the east end facing Main street a stout battened 
door in the south corner, and in the center a large win- 
dow and a smaller one above; and on the south side 
facing First street two large windows with a door be- 
tween, and in the west end a window lighting tiie up- 
per floor. True, the building had for a foundation 
pine blocks and never was painted, but was substan- 
tial and large enough for the purpose intended. Why- 
it should have been spoken of as a "shanty store;" in 
some historical sketches of Jamestown we will not 



372 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

stop now to explain, for the explanation would not 
pay for the paper on which it was written. It was one 
of the most substantial buildings of those early times. 
A young man by the name of Thomas Disher was the 
first superintendent of this store, afterwards Richard 
Hiller for many years was the sole manager. So much 
so that many supposed he was the proprietor, and it 
was as frequently called Hiller's as Prenclergast's store. 
The late Rufus Jones, when about 18 years old, en- 
tered this store as an assistant. Still later Isaac H. 
Hiller, half brother of Richard Hiller, was for many 
years assistant and remained such until the store closed 
in 1836. Neither Jediah or Martin Prendergast were 
ever residents of Jamestown, although both frequently 
visited the store. 

They dealt in general merchandise, dry goods, 
groceries, hardware, liquors, and all goods required by 
the early settlers. 

RICHARD HILLER 

Was a lumberman as well as agent for this store. 
For many years he either alone or in company with 
Horace Bacon, a brother-in-law, bought a fleet of lum- 
ber of Prendergast, rafted it and ran it to Cincinnati. 
In those days Eliakim (iarfield was the most promi- 
nent raftsman on the head waters of the Conewango. 
Richard Hiller married Hannah, the eldest daughter 
of Joseph Garfield and Horace Bacon married Anna, 
the second daughter. They had several children. 
After leaving the store Hiller removed to a farm in 
the town of Carroll, where both he and his wife died a 
few years ago. 

It is proper here to mention that Wm. B. Allen, 
Johnson Goodwell and Elial T. Foote, erected, near 
the time the Prendergasts were building their store, a 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 373 

mere sbanty on the northeast corner of Main and Sec- 
ond streets, and placed therein a few articles of mer- 
chandise. This concern was of short duration. 
While it existed it was in care of W. H. Fenton, who 
was then nearing manhood, and who is now' the pat- 
riarch of the town. Who Allen and Goodwell were 
we have not been able to ascertain. We have several 
accounts of the closing up of this store, the most prob- 
able of which is that Foote and Fenton bought out Al- 
len and Goodwell and sold goods there for nearly a 
year, finally selling the remnants of their stock to 
Silas Tiffany, who had purchased the lots and soon af- 
ter erected a store. 

SILAS TIFFANY 

Was among the earliest of Ellicott's substantial 
settlers and for many years was one of Jamestown's 
most important citizens. The incidents of his jour" 
ney hither are related in his own laconic style, in the 
following letter written by him, and read at a meeting 
of old settlers, held at Fredonia in 1873. 

Early settlers, friends and fellow citizens — It is with pleasure 
that I claim to be one of your number, and regret that I cannot be 
with you to-day. 

More than half a century have I spent the days, months and 
years in your midst. In June, 1816, I left Buffalo for the "rapids" 
of Chautauqua outlet. Then the western trail wjis along the beach 
of Lake Erie and through the "Cattaraugus woods." The day's 
travel brought up at the old Cash stand. Left in the early morning 
after breakfasting on cat-fish and red potatoes. At Canadaway had 
a good meal at Abel's; at the Cross Koads ate with Perry Ell- worth. 
At Mayville stopped 'vith Captain Scott over night; thence took pas- 
sage by canoe duwn the lake, old joHy Tinkham the oarsman and 
pilot — fare 50 cents to the rapids, then a hamlet consi.^ting of Judge 
Prendergast's saw and grist mill, and J. & M. Prendergast's store, 
with some small dwellings. Then the time from Buffalo to the liap- 
ids was three days; now from same point less than three hours to 
Jamestown with a population of 7,000 to 8,000, where the hum of a 
busy and varied industry greets and tells of progress. Where once 



:574 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

t'.ie native Indian roamed a hunter's life, now smiles t])e blooming 
field ' he school house tells of mental culture; the steeple pointing 
to heaven admonishes the wayfarer that he treads on Christian 
giound Mav the citizens of our country ever merit the reward held 
in re*>- rve for the most worthy, is the prayer of 

Silas Tiffany, aged 81. 
Jamestown, June 10, 187o. 

We are indebted to a memoir of Silas Tiffany read 
by W. \V. Henderson at tbe annual reunion of the 
Jones-Hazeltine Historical society at Chautauqua in 
June, 188r, for mau}^ incidents related in this memor- 
ial. "At the time of Mr, Tiffany's arrival in James- 
town tbe area now occupied by the city was largely 
covtM'ed with an unbro-ken forest of pine. Deer were 
nuiiuvrous, and bears and wolves not uncommon. The 
yeai- previous the village plot had been surveyed and 
the name of Jamestown adopted to succeed that of The 
Rapids. Of the few building that had been erected, 
was the liouse on Main street, built by Blowers for 
Judge Prendergast as a boarding house for the hands 
building the mill, and then the home of Dr. Hazeltine; 
tiie house on Cherry street built as a residence for 
Judge Prendergast and Captain William Forbes; the 
new liouse just completed for Judge Prendergast on 
the west side of Main street; the tavern of Jacob Fen- 
ton and a few other small houses and a few buildings 
yet incomplete. Soon after Mr. Tiffany's arrival at 
the rapids he purchased the lot on the northeast cor- 
ner of Main and Second streets and erected a large 
two-storied store, to the north side of which he attached 
a one-storied building for a residence. The first per- 
son to occupy this residence was J. E. Budlong; after- 
wards Benjamin Budlong; and after Mr. Tiffany's mar- 
riage it was his own residence until 1837, when seven 
buildings on the east side of Main street, between Sec- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 375 

ond and Third, were destroyed by fire, including Mr, 
Tiffciny's house aiul store. Not counting the shanty 
store on Mr. Titfimy's lots when he purchased them, 
his was the second store in the town; his first goods 
arrived in the fall of 1817. His store was first built 
on blocks, as tlien was usual. In the spring of 1819 
he dug a cellar under it, and under the hou.se and 
built cellar walls of stone picked up by the side of a 
small brook w' hich runs along the west side of what is 
now Baker street. These stones were of poor quality 
and were laid up without mortar under the store, but 
with a kind of mortar made of ashes and clay under 
the house; these were the first stone walls built in 
Jamestown." Mr. Tiffany w^as for many years engaged 
in merchandizing in Jamestown, with which he con- 
nected the purclnise of lumber, rafting, running and 
selling the same in Cincinnati and other southern mar- 
kets. From 1819 to 1831 or 1832 his brother, Jehial 
Tiffany, was connected in business. In 1829 the 
brothers bought the mill privilege, and 1000 acres of 
land lying on both sides of the outlet at what has long 
been known as Tifianyville, betw^een Dexterville and 
Worksburg, and discontinued their store in James- 
town. Silas Tiffany continued to reside in Jamestown 
but his brother removed to Tiffany ville and there re- 
sided up to the time of his death. About two years 
afterwards the brotliers dissolved partnership and di- 
vided the property to their mutual satisfaction, Jehial 
Tiffany continuing to be the manager of the mills and 
landed property. 

Silas Tiffany, on September 20, 1831 married Lucy 
Hyde, daughter of tlie late Elias Hyde and step 
daughter of the late Benjamin Budlong. Silas and 
Lucy (Hyde) Tiffany had born to them six children, of 



376 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

whom but three are now Hving, viz: Miss Corneha Tif- 
fany, Martha, wife of W. W. Henderson, Esq., and 
Lucia, first wife of the late Lieut. Albert Sprague, U. S. 
N., and now of Prof. Henry D. Ingraham, M. D., of Buf- 
falo. Mr. Tiffany died on the 24th of June. 1874. 
Lucy (Hyde) Titfany survived her husband two years 
and died in June, 187H. Mrs. Tiffany was a woman of 
sterling character. She had for the times received a 
superior education and was well known for her many 
accomplishments. 

In speaking of the personal traits of character of 
Mr. Titfany we quote the language of Charles Sterns, 
himself an early settler long associated with and ob- 
servant of the men of his time, lately deceased. He 
says : 

" The tall, spai'e gentleman now wending his way slowly down 
the sidewalk with a quiet dignity and gentleness of tread denoting 
the self -poised gentleman of the old school, is Mr. Silas Tiffany. Mr. 
Tiffany was an original, independent (hinker, radical in politics, a 
Whig previous to the organization of the Republican party, and dur- 
ing the war an earnest, uncompromising Unionist. He possessed a 
genial, kindly disposition, especially observable in his domestic rela- 
tions. His sympathies were easily enlisted in behalf of those strug- 
gling to secure an education, many young men could testify to en- 
couragement and aid received at his hands. His interests in i he 
schools were unabated. Let us for a moment reflect. More than 
three fourths of a century of participation in, and observation of the 
growth of this country. An eventful chapter in the history of the 
world, embracing great revolutions in politics, in religion, in science 
and the arts. A new world of inventions, of railways and telegraphs 
had grown up around him. Toilsome journeys liketho.-^eof his boy- 
hood abridged to days and even hours. Time and distance so almost 
obliterated that the citizenship of this broad republic of once isolated 
homes had become, as it were, a great home circle — a vast social 
presence and neighborsLip from the Atlantic to the Pacitic." 

Mr. Henderson tells us that " Mr. Tiffany was an 
optimist. His faith was reliant and hopeful in its hold 
upon established truths. In one of his latest conver- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 377 

sations on the subject of the future he expressed con- 
victions based on the most exalted ideas of Supreme 
•creative wisdom and power. His death took place 
immediately following the date of the last meeting of 
the old settlers of Chautauqua county held in James- 
town. But a few hours before he expired, with a smile 
upon his lips, he pleasantly referred to the proceedings 
of the meeting, repeating a humorous anecdote of the 
earlier days applicable to the subject. His going to 
sleep at last was like that of 

' One who wraps the drapery of his couch 
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.' 

Silas Tiffany was certainly a very remarkable 
man, and during his fifty-eight years residence in 
Jamestown one of its most important citizens. He was 
in all respects a gentleman — not in his own estimation, 
but in the estimation of every one who ever came in 
contact with him. He could be nothing else if he had 
tried, either in appearance, words or conduct. Hand- 
some in form, — generous open countenance — refined 
and gentle in all of his movements, well educated, 
pleasant of speech, a fine conversationalist, pure in 
thought and in diction, unassuming, correct in his 
deportment, beloved by all wdio know^ him, — it is 
difficult to see how Silas Tiffany could be anything 
else than a gentleman, and that, too, in any age of the 
world, and under all circumstances in which it would 
be possible to place him. It is not possible to come 
in contact with a man of his stamp without feeling a 
fascination more than ordinary. Any one possessing so 
many good qualities of person and mind, awaken in 
us a deep sympathy and an admiration we can neither 
repress or express. If it is or ever has been true of 



378 THE EAKLY Hl'STOUy OF 

any one, we feel that it is certainly so of Silas Tiffany^ 
that he was a gentleman by nature and 

"one of nature's noblemen." 
jehial tiffany 
Was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1798, and emi- 
grated with his parents to Darien, Genesee county in 
1809, making that journey with oxen in twent^'-six 
days. He came to Ellicott in 1816, went back to Da- 
rien the next year, and again came to Jamestown in 
1818. He was for several years connected with his 
brother, Silas Tiffany, in merchadizing and lumbering. 
Purchased a large tract of land on the outlet between 
Dexterville and Falconer, and in 1829 built mills. 
From that time up to his death devoted himself to 
lumbering and farming. He died after a protracted 
illness Jan. 11, 1867. His son, John H. Tifiany w^rites 
us that " The first funeral in the old Congregational 
church was that of Mr. Tiffany's mother,, who died 
when on a visit to her son. Mr. Tiffany M^as twice 
married ; his first wife was a sister of the celebrated 
Dr. Silas Durkee of Boston. They had eight children; 
all now dead except the youngest son, who resides at 
Falconer. Mrs, Tiffany died in 1848. In 1853 Mr. 
Tiffany married Charlotte Hopkins, of Clarence, N. Y. 
They had two sons, James H., who died in infancy, 
and John H., who is still living, with his mother, on 
the Jehial Tiffany homestead. 

SAMUEL BARRETT 

We have already spoken of as one of the early set- 
tlers, and as engaged in the business of tanning and 
currying with Wilford Barker, and in lumbering with 
Henry Baker. He was prominent in the affairs of the 
town and of the county. Mr. Barrett was engaged for 
many years with various partners in merchandizing. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 379 

He was for many years President of the Chautauqua 
county bank. For several years he served as justice 
of the peace, and also as supervisor of the town, and in 
1850 was elected as member of assembly. Samuel 
Barrett was one of Jamestown's most prominent and 
active business men, but he has been spoken of so fre- 
quently in these pages, that it is not necessary to say 
more of him here. He was frequently called upon for 
advice in business matters, his opinion being held in 
highest estimation. He had a large family of children 
of whom but three are now living, and Mrs. Lucy Bar- 
rett White, the only one living in Jamestown. Samuel 
Barrett died in Jamestown in 1872. His wife survived 
him for several years, but we have not been informed 
of the time of her death. 

HENRY BAKER 

Became one of Jamestown's most important men 
— next to James Prendergast probably the most im- 
portant. Mr. Baker came to Jamestown at an early 
day, but as the memory of his youngest son does not 
agree with that of several old settlers and our historic 
memorandums, we omit what we had written upon 
the subject. He served in the war of 1812, and his 
services were paid in a warrant for land. In those days 
the soldier was not permitted to locate his land as now, 
but his warrant was given for a specific tract, located 
where the government might choose. Young Baker's 
land warrant was located in Illinois, then considered 
too far distant to be of much value, and he sold it for 
$10 to Dr. Foote, and took his pay in plug tobacco at 
one dollar a pound. For a time he lived in Fluvanna. 
He built a small shop near the lake, and when not en 
gaged in cutting logs, made shoes for the settlers. Af- 
terwards he came to Jamestown and started a shop in 



380 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

HarriDgton's Ark. In the fall of 1822 he married 
Anna, a sister of Royal Keyes, who died the folio A^ing 
May, The infant child was buried clasped in the arms 
of its mother. On the tombstone erected at the head 
of Mrs. Baiter's grave in the old graveyard above 
Fifth street, for many 3'^ears might be read the follow- 
ing couplet : 

" Clasped in the mother's arms the infant lies, 
Insatiate Archer, could not one sutfice." 

In the fall of 1823 Mr. Baker, in company with R. 
F. Fenton, rented the Ballard tavern for two years. 
He continued in this business for a few months and 
then retired, as it interfered with his lumbering. 
In 1825 he entered into partnership with Alvin Plumb, 
and purchased lands and a water power at the mouth 
of the Cassadaga and built a saw mill, but the next 
year he sold his interest to Plumb, and the mills were 
always known as Plumb's mills. In 1827 he bought 
an interest in the store of Barrett & Budlong, which 
was located where Kent's brick store now stands. Mr. 
Budlong withdrew in 1830 from the firm; the business 
was continued for several years more by Samuel Bar- 
rett and Henry Baker, under the firm name of Barrett 
& Baker. 

In 1828 Mr. Baker married Maria, a daughter of 
Cyrus Fish, one of the earliest settlers of the county, 
coming in in 1813. Soon after his marriage Judge 
Prendergast offered to deed him a whole square on 
Third street west of the swamp, if he would place a 
good house upon it and make it his home. He ac- 
cepted the offer and erected what at that time was the 
best house in Jamestown, and in which he resided up 
to 1844; afterward, for nearly twenty years it was the 
home of the writer. In 1863 we sold the place to J. S. 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 381 

Cook, who resided there for a short time and then re- 
moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has been known for 
the last twenty years as the Cook property, and has 
become one of the most valuable locations in the 
city. 

Col. Baker was one of the company which bought 
out the property of Judge Prendergast in Jamestown. 
" This purcliase was made in 1886, and the company 
consisted of Aaron D. Patchin, Henry Baker, Samuel 
Barrett, Guy C. Irvine, N. A. Lovvry and E. T. Foote, 
who with characteristic caution transferred his share, 
before the papers were completed, to E. G. Owens." 
The property consisted of the immense water power at 
Jamestown, and sixteen hundred acres of land, of 
which about three hundred acres were swamp lands, 
together with numerous village lots scattered all 
through the town. In a short time Irvine, Lowry and 
Owen disposed of their interests in the property to the 
remaining partners, and during the succeeding year 
Henry Baker was made sole purchaser. Judge Pren- 
dergast releasing the o.ther partners. At the time the 
purchase was first made it was considered a very ad- 
vantageous one, but in the fall of the same year the 
" great panic " and the greatest depression in trade 
ever known in the United States came on. Mr. Baker's 
associates became exceedingly alarmed, and it was not 
until after a hard struggle, and after Baker had had a 
long interview with Judge Prendergast, that he con- 
sented to be saddled with the whole of this great pur- 
chase. Every one prophesied that it would be his 
ruin, and in a certain sense it was, for he had a heavy 
debt holding over him for the remainder of his life. 
After his death in hS03 the balance of the debt was 
paid and a fine property remained to be divided among 



383 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

his heirs. Col. Baker was a far seeing business man, 
and after he had made up his own opinion as to the 
resuhs was bold and brave in accomplishing them. In 
1846 he went into mercantile business with Rufus W. 
Pier, in which he continued for three years, then sell- 
ing out to Wm. E. Barrett, a son of Samuel Barrett. 
In 1847 he sold the grist mill and accompanying wa- 
ter privilege to Wellington H. Griffith; it is now the 
property of D. H. Grandin. For many years before 
his death he was the owner of some 600 acres of land 
south of and in addition to the Prendergast purchase. 
This was his farm, and his home after his removal 
from Jamestown. On this f^irm he built a large and 
commodious residence, houses for his help, and nume- 
rous large barns. He devoted his time largely to 
farming, and added farm after farm until he was sur- 
rounded with over eighteen hundred acres of highly 
cultivated land, the large fields originally thickl}^ stud- 
ded with huge pine stumps, which were removed by 
his efforts, leaving the land as smooth as a western 
prairie, and divided up by the massive pine stump 
fences into suitable fields, will be an almost durable 
monument to his indomitable energy. As a politician 
he was a prominent and ardent Republican. A dili- 
gent reader, a man of excellent memory, a fiuent 
talker, he was always an influential man in the county, 
and for many years was the standing supervisor of Elli- 
eott, and a person of greatest influence in county 
affairs. 

The same martial ardor that had kindled in his 
bosom in youth, flashed into a fierce fiame in his 
old age, at the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861. 
With his consent three of his sons volunteered for their 
country's defence; two of them in Co. B. and his eldest 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 383 

son was a Lieutenant in the 9th N, Y. cavalry. Well 
do we remember a meeting in Jones's hall after the 
Army of the Potomac had closed its disastrous cam- 
paitrn on the peninsula, and we were trying to raise 
still another regiment. When the clouds hung heavy 
and everything was gloomy, Col. Baker came in and 
took his seat on the platform. In response to repeated 
calls he addressed to his old friends then assembled a 
few brief remarks. He said: 'M know we are called 
upon to make sacriiices, but thank God we have a 
country worthy of them. I was willing that my two 
oldest boys should go when their country called, but I 
did not want the youngest to go. He was too young 
to endure that fatigue and I told him so. But he said, 
' You enlisted in the war of 1812 when no older than I 
am now. I want to go, but I want your consent.' 
What could I do ? There was but one thing to do, 
and I said to him *Go, go, and if wounded don't let it 
be in the back; if you will be a soldier, I rather see 
you dead than a poor soldier.' I have just received 
the intelligence, so long after the last battle on the 
James river, that Jim was wounded at Malvern and 
taken prisoner, and has had a leg off at the hip, and 
Charley is in the hospital sick with Chickahominy 
fever, and the last I heard of 'Dick ' his company was 
serving the artillery at Yorktown. God only knows 
whether I shall ever see them again. I do not expect 
to see all of them. I do hope that at least one of them 
will come home." He stopped for a moment and 
gazed at the American flag suspended over the plat- 
form and with the tears streaming down his haggard 
face, he continued ; " My family is dear to me. It 
makes me faint to think of losing my boys. But I love 
my country. T almost worship tliat blessed old flag. 



3€4 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

There must never be another flag in any part of these 
United States as long as a man remains in the north 
to defend its stars and the stripes. Raise j^our regiment 
and that quickl}^; the country needs the men; I have 
no more sons to give, but I will give more money, and 
keep on giving as long as I have a cent left, and if I had 
three more sons old enough to bear a musket I would 
give them too. We must save that flag," The herrt of 
that great assemblage was touched, the silence profound 
the tears plentiful. Thank God, the life of that old 
patriot was spared to see all three of those sons once 
more; spared to see that pall of gloom which had over- 
spread the north, withdrawn; spared to know that vic- 
tory was surely to be ours, and that flag safe and free 
to wave from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. And 
yet the case is a sad one, if the old Colonel was yet 
living. Richard, the oldest son, died in 1880, aged 48 
years, from disease the foundation of which was laid 
in army life. James was an almost constant sufferer 
after the amputation of his leg from disease of the 
nerves of the stump, requiring at times an almost daily 
subcutaneous use of morphine to allay the pain; death 
came to his relief in 1884, at the age of 43. Charles 
recovered from his fever, but has had both eyes de- 
stroyed by an accident with machinery. 

Col, Henry Baker died on the 31st of July, 1863, 
at the age of 06. Mrs. Baker is still living to mourn 
the changes of time and the destructive ravages of 
war. 

It should be inscribed on his tomb stone, liere lies 

HENRY BAKER, THE PATRIOT. 
ALVIN PLUMB 

Came to Jamestown in 1826 and purchased thirty 
feet in width from the north side of Judge Prender- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 385 

gast's yard, and built a store which he filled with 
goods the following year. Charles Butler became a 
clerk in this store soon after its establishment. Later 
he became a partner with Plumb, and afterwards sole 
proprietor, selling his interest in 1831 to Chas. R. Har- 
vey and John J. Leonard. When the store building 
was erected a passage way 10 or 12 feet wide w^as left 
to the north between the store and the Ballard tavern 
which admitted equally to the store house of the store 
and to the barn yard of the hotel. In after years this 
passage way became the subject of warm dispute but 
the matter was finally settled without litigation. The 
stores now occupied by Scofield & Dinsmore and L. L. 
Mason occupy the ground formerly occupied by the 
Plumb store and that part of the passage way awarded 
to it. Mr. Plumb w^as twice elected as Member of As- 
sembl}^ in 1833 and 1837. He, was elected County 
Clerk in 1843. He was at one time Post Master in 
Jamestown. He built the first steamboat on Chautau- 
qua lake. He married a Miss Davis of Westfield and 
had children. His son and a son-in-law we are in- 
formed served in the war of the rebellion and both 
were severely wounde^. He removed to Westfield 
nearly fifty years ago and there resided up to the time 
of his death. His death occurred a few years ago but 
we are not able to give the date. Alvin Plumb was a 
ver}^ active, busy, generous and good man. As a boy 
we remember him as one of the most important and 
as the best man in Jamestown. 

JEDIAH E. BUDLONG, 

Who for a year or so at an early date became the 
proprietor of the goods in the Tiffany store, built a 
store on the east side of Main street which we have 
designated as the Barrett & Baker store. J. E. and 



38G THE EARLY TilSTOKY OF 

Samuel Budlong were the first occupants — afterwards 
Budlong & Barrett, and finally Barrett, Baker & Co. 
The Kellogg & Higley store immediately above was 
built in 1833. 

ELISHA HALL 

A brother of the late Wm. Hall, built a brick 
house, the first brick building in Jamestown, on 
ground now occupied by Fenner's shoe store, and a 
store immediately south of it in 1831 in which for sev- 
eral years he did a general merchandizing business. 
Hall married Mary Foote, a sister of Dr. E. T. Foote. 
He removed to St. Louis many years ago where his 
children now reside, and where he and his wife both 
died. Their remains are interred in Lake View cem- 
etery. 

NATHANIEL A. LOWRY 

Located in Pine Grove in 1828 as a merchant and 
buyer of lumber. He removed to Jamestown in 1833. 
His first stock of goods were displayed in " Noah's 
Ark" and Horace Jacobs was his managing clerk. 
The brick building erected by Plumb & Lowry on the 
northeast corner of Main and Third streets has al- 
ready been spoken of. As soon as the building was 
completed Mr, Lowry occupied the north of the two 
stores. He made merchandizing secondary to lumber- 
ing and always, I think, had some one as partner in 
and manager of the store. Jacobs, Richard F. Fen- 
ton, S. C. Crosby, Wm. F. Wheeler and others were 
one after the other his partners. In 1844 he was 
stabbed in front of his own house (the house now 
owned by Dr. Hall on the southeast corner of Lafay- 
ette and Third streets, when returning home from his 
store in the early evening. Jeremiah Newman of Pine 
Grove, the would-be murderer served a term of years in 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 387 

Auburn for the deed. Mr. Lowry died February 23, 
1852. 

The large wooden building already mentioned as 
the Trinity building, was built and occupied as then 
stated by Havens, Grout, Lakin and others. Small 
general stores were plenty in Jamestown from 1835 to 
1845. In these stores were sold dry goods, groceries, 
hardware, etc. The complete list of those who first 
and last occupied them would be a difficult thing to 
give, for the stores w^ere many and the changes fre- 
quent. Grocery stores were not plenty in those days. 
Those we had, generally combined therewith the sa- 
loon and the eating room. William H. Tew was a 
noted mechanical genius, and by trade a tin smith. 
He was at onetime a notorious commissioner of high- 
ways. He was the father of our Union School. Years 
ago he was called a black Abolitionist, and was dur- 
ing his whole life a strong advocate of Total Abstin- 
ence. He was a man of strict integrity — firm in his 
opinions — a man of wealth, and influence and a 
banker. As he was over forty years a dealer in stoves 
and hardware we place him here with our mer- 
chants. 

WILLIAM HENRY TEW^ 

Wm. H. Tew was not only one of Jamestown's 
prominent merchants, but one of its most prominent 
citizens in the conduct and management of affairs. 
He stood in the front rank of those who labored a life 
time to build up its moral and intellectual, as well as 
its material interests. A laborer himself, and a su- 
perior mechanic, he believed in the dignity of labor, 
and work honestly and thoroughly done, was to him 
a delight. His intellectual faculties were of a high or- 
der — his perceptions quick, his reasoning sound, and 



388 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

his judgment seldom surpassed. He was a reader 
and a thinker, and he ahvays took a high stand, in 
promoting the educational institutions of the village; 
and truthfully it may be said of him, that he was the 
founder of our Union School, in so much, that he was 
the bold and intrepid leader of followers, timid in an 
undertaking, then considered novel and radical, and 
which involved our town to so great an outlay of 
money. Mr. Tew was fond of society and excelled as a 
conversationalist; he rejoiced in a good story, and was 
always brimful of wit. 

The honest, hard-working man, overtaken by 
misfortune, never went empty-handed from his office. 
We have in mind the case of a farmer and a superior 
mechanic in danger of losing all from endorsing the 
paper of a neighbor, but a scoundrel, who had procured 
his signature by false representations. He was owing 
Tew (with whom he had a business acquaintance 
only) and several others considerable amounts which 
he desired to pay before making an assignment, and 
sent a man from Busti to Jamestown with the money. 
Tew had heard of the man's misfortune, and made fur- 
ther inquiries of the messenger, as to the state of af- 
fairs. Instead of taking the money, he harnessed his 
horse and went to Busti in the midst of a fearful snow 
storm, to aid a man whom he deemed worthy but un- 
fortunate. Tew was full of these tricks of generous 
benevolent feeling, so much so, that it was said of him 
" Tew's stubbornness is only equalled by his kind- 
ness." He always visited the sick and afflicted, and may 
this pencil drop from a palzied hand if we ever forget 
his kindness when the great misfortune of our life 
overtook us in 1860. He was the first to call and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 389 

mingle his tears with mine and to offer all the con- 
solation in his power. 

He relieved the wants of the poor and needy, but 
in some cases it aroused his ire to know that the food 
he had sent to a starving wife and children, was shared 
and monopolized by a lazy, shiftless, drunken husband. 
It was well for such that Wm. H. Tew could not exer- 
cise the power of the Sultan of Morrocco; if he could 
have done so, mutes and bow-strings would have 
found employment in Jamestown, He was generous 
to the sick the needy and the unfortunate; his heart 
melted before the needs of even the unworthy for he 
could not see distress without alleviating it — yet his 
hatred of the idle, the drunken and the profligate 
knew no other bounds. 

Mr. Tew was born in RensslearviHe, Albany 
County, N. Y., in 1808; two years afterwards his par- 
ents removed to Otsego county. At an early age he 
evinced a genuis for mechanics which became so con- 
spicuous in after life. His education was that of our 
common schools and of the newspaper. As a boy he 
worked at cloth dressing, and afterwards as an assis- 
tant to his father who was a carpenter. His brother, 
George W. Tew, came to Jamestown in 1825 and es- 
tablished a tin and sheet iron factory. The following 
year William, then 18 years old, came to Jamestown 
and labored as a common workman in his brother's 
factory. We remember him ver}'' distinctly; his ap- 
pearance at that time; and how he was lauded for his 
correct habits and dilligence in business. He was a 
great favorite not only among the young people of 
that day, but of the older ones also. He was constant- 
ly spoked of as one of the most industrious young men 
m the village, and as opposed to drinking, a habit to 



390 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

which too many of the young men of those days were 
addicted, and also as strongly opposed to slavery. 
Wm. H. Tew brought his temperance and his anti-slav- 
ery opinions with him when he came to the town in 
1826, and he never abandoned them up to the day of 
his death. A strong temperance man, he bitterly op- 
posed the organization of the first temperance society 
attempted in Jamestown, because their pledge permit- 
ted the use of hard cider, ale and wines. He declared 
in the open assembly that their use was more baneful 
then the rum and whiskey against which they pro- 
posed to combine their influence. Young Tew said, 
there was but one kind of temperance society he would 
ever join, and that should prohibit everything that 
would intoxicate or even stimulate. He did not be- 
lieve in cutting off Carpenter's whiskey,and permitting 
judges, doctors, lawyers and even ministers, to drink 
cider and wine. Perhaps he was drunk once, and that 
was after drinking what they called Muscat wine. 
He well knew that he was sick for two days, and that 
he had a headache and was dizzy for nearly a week. 
Drinks that produce such effects should be pro- 
hibited. A prominent leader in all good works in 
those days answered Tew — said he believed he intend- 
ed to be personal in his remarks, and scolded him for 
expressing his opinions so freely at that time, and re- 
marked that in such matters hoys should he seen and 
not heard; that it was the business of older people to 
direct. The young man replied that he was not as old 
either in good works or in iniquity, as some of them, 
nevertheless he had opinions and he should not give 
them up as long as he believed them right. Silas 
Shearman sprang to his feet and said, "Tew you are 
right, and I go with you and when I join a temper- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 391 

ance society it shall be a total abstinence one." The 
leader declared there was no such society in the Unit- 
ed States. Tew replied it was high time there was 
one. The reply was, you and Shearman are Ejctremists. 
Yes extremel}^ right, replied Shearman, When the call 
for names to the pledge was made Dr. Hazeltine and 
three others replied, that they sympathized with Tew 
and Shearman and would wait for future develope- 
ments. The meeting adjourned without effecting an 
organization, a short time after an organization was ef- 
fected but it never amounted to anything. A year or 
more later a society was formed nearly on the plan 
proposed by Tew and Shearman, as spoken of by Elijah 
Bishop. Coming home from the first temperance 
meeting S. A. Brown, Esq. met Joseph Waite, Esq., 
" Well and then, Squire Waite, how did you like the 
meetinT^ "A pretty question to ask — Sile Shearman is 
always putting in his gab when it is not wanted, and 
that young Tew bids fair to be worse than Shearman." 
" A very promisin young man Squire Waite, and would 
make a fine appearin capting in our militia. B}^ the 
way Squire A¥aite, Mr. George Tew is about commenc- 
ing the readin of law in my offis." "Success to him, 
but do you not think the young Abolitionist is a little 
too fast? You and me and our chairman, and many of 
our best citizens drink wine and cider and it never 
made me drunk." "■ Well and. thev Squire Waite I 
must confess I have had a headache, and sometimes 
all of the symptoms spoken of by Mr. Tew. You say 
he is but a boy and I should not call him Mr. — Waite, 
some men. arrive at maturity quite young — if I re- 
member correctly you commenced the study of law 
when you were 36." 

When he became of age in 1829 his brother took 



392 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

him into partnership; and in the spring of that year 
he married Rhoda Burnham, a prominent young lady 
of Jamestown, and who was previously of the town of 
Pomfret. In the fall of that year the brothers erected 
the large two-storied building on the southeast corner 
of Main and Fourth streets, and removed their factory 
from "Noah's Ark" to it, and added stoves to their 
stock in trade. In 1835 Geo. W. Tew became County 
Clerk and removed to Mayville and Wm. H. Tew con- 
tinued the business alone. He afterwards bought a 
lot on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets 
(a portion of the old Disher tavern property) and in 
1847 erected thereon a large brick block, the second of 
importance in the town. At this time his brother-in- 
law Rufus Jones became his partner, and they added 
a full assortment of hardware to the stock previously 
kept. After a few years Mr. Jones retired and went 
into business by himself; Mr. Tew continued business 
at the old stand up to 1867, with either his eldest son 
Harvey, or his son-in-law Wm. H. Sprague as part- 
ners. He gave his entire attention to this business for 
over 40 years, and retired from it wdth a fortune. At 
the time of his retirement from the hardware busi- 
ness, himself and his brother, Geo. W. Tew of Silver 
Creek, were the principal stockholders in the City Na- 
tional Bank of Jamestown, and he became the Presi- 
dent, but not long after his health began to fail and in 
1880 he was compelled to withdraw from all business. 
His enforced idleness, and confinement to the house 
were irksome and he became hypochondriacal. His 
mind soon began to brood over fancied ills, in sym- 
pathy with his physical ailments, and finally his mind 
became partially unhinged. Society, even of his most 
intimate friends, became distasteful to him, and he 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 393 

confined himself to the house and the companionship 
of his children. During the last years of his life the 
writer occasionally visited him partly professionally, 
and partly socially. He suffered severely both physic- 
ally and mentally, and he was constantly looking anx- 
iously for the time to come when he should be relieved 
from his suffering and at rest. 

In all his intense suffering Tew had one great 
consolation, and he appreciated it, it was his remain- 
ing source of happiness. During his long, painful 
illness of years, his children were most faithful and de- 
voted, and watched over him with a constant and most 
tender solicitude; every, and the least want, if possible 
was anticipated. Such an example of filial affection 
we never expected to behold, and shall never see again. 
Those children who so tenderly and so long, watched 
with affectionate care over a stricken father, found a 
streak of silver lining to the cloud of their grief when 
he departed; — and the remembrance of duty then 
faithfully performed, will not only line with silver 
certain clouds which must arise in the future — but 
will also place a golden crown upon each. 

To Wm. H. and Rhoda (Burnham) Tew were born 
five children; all now living, except the eldest daugh- 
ter — Mrs. Julia Sprague. 

In the fall of 1870 Mr. Tew married Mrs. Mary G. 
Smith, the w^idow of Harvey Smith, spoken of in the 
chapter on Newspapers. Mrs. Tew died about five 
years before her husband. 

One of the most prominent characteristics of Wm. 
H. Tew's character was his sense of justice. He never 
failed to stand by the side of the weak against the 
strong, if he found their cause just, no matter what their 
character or standing might be otherwise. Is it right? 



394 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

■ — was the question he alwaj^s asked himself before em- 
barking upon any important undertaking. But after 
his mind was once made up, his tenacity of purpose 
and of opinion was so great, that he was seldom 
swerved from his original purpose. He adhered to his 
opinions upon all subjects with a tenacity which is 
rightly termed stubbornness ; — so much so that it be- 
came a mode of expression in Jamestown, when a per- 
son would not yield to what were considered reasona- 
ble arguments, to say to him — " You are as stubborn as 
Wm. H. Tew." Mr. Tew tvas a stubborn man in the 
fullest sense of the word, but his stubbornness was al- 
ways founded upon what he considered rigiit and just, 
and in the end it was rarely found — never in things of 
importance — that he was wrong. It is a great pity we 
have not many more stubborn men like Wm. H. Tew. 
He formed his own opinions, and when formed, he 
firmly, stubbornly if you will, held to them. Wm. H. 
Tew worshipped at the shrine of the Just and the 
True, and we are quite willing to write him down 

THE STUBBORN MAN OF JAMESTOWN. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Other Early Settlers of Ellicott, Carroll, Ki- 
ANTONE, Poland and Bustl 



Capt. William Forbes. — We have not been able 
to obtain much information about this important early- 
settler at the rapids. To that which we have, dates 
for the most part are wanting. If he did not come 
with Judge Prendergast, he certainly came soon after, 
and during the same year. We believe we are correct 
when we say, that Prendergast, previous to his com- 
mencement of operations at the rapids, had employed 
William Forbes and Horatio Dix to come and erect his 
mills for him. Be this as it may, it is certain that both 
of these persons assisted in erecting the first saw mill 
and were present when his log house burned. 

When the company was raised in the south por- 
tion of the county in 1812, John Silsbee, a son-in-law 
of Wm. Bemus, was made Captain, Wm. Forbes Lieu- 
tenant, and Elijah Akins, Ensign. Silsbee was wounded 
at the battle of Black Rock, and the command de- 
volved on Forbes, wlio soon was made Captain. Akins 
had the honor of bringing home the intelligence of the 
disaster at the Rock hi advance of all others. 



396 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

Forbes, previous to entering the army, lived in a 
plank house on the east side of Cherry street, below Sec- 
ond street ; from this he removed to the mill house, 
built as a home for the sawyers. Mrs. Forbes desiring 
a more quiet residence, he built a small plank house 
near a spring which was on the back part of the lot on 
which the store now occupied by Whitley stands; it 
was not much more than a shanty, and he made im- 
mediate arrangements for erecting a larger house, 
which was also of planks, about fifty feet above and on 
the line of the street. After residing there a year or 
more he removed to the Disher house, which was no 
longer used as a tavern, and there resided as long as 
he remained in Jamestown. During his residence here 
he was constantly emploj^ed by Judge Prendergast to 
superintend his mills. In 1828 Forbes & Runyan 
rented the mills in Kennedyville and removed there. 
Two or three years later he emigrated to the west, we 
believe to Illinois. After Forbes removed to the Disher 
house, the plank house vacated was occupied by AVm. 
Clark, and afterward was known as the Clark house. 
This house, which was one of the land marks, was de- 
stroyed by the fire of 1837. 

Gen. Horace Allen, came to the rapids in 1815 
in a wagon drawn bv oxen from Otsego county. He 
was originally from New Hampshire. His wife, w^ho 
came into the county with him, carrying in her arms 
an infant child — the late Dana Allen — was Fannie, the 
daughter of the late Col. Nathaniel Fenton of Revo- 
lutionary memory — whose bravery and deeds of valor 
as a scout at the age of eighteen were nursery tales in 
the earl}'^ days of Ellicott. After a long and most wear- 
isome journey they arrived at the rapids, and for a time 
lived in the plank house on Cherry street, built after 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 397 

the burning of the log house, as the residence of Judge 
Prendergast and William Forbes. Wm. Forbes, a fe;v 
days before, took possession of a frame house (the sec- 
ond erected at the rapids) which had been built as a 
home for the superintendent of the mills and as a 
home for the sawyers. This house if now standing 
would be north of the east half of the N. Y. P. & O. 
passenger station. Allen immediately hired out to 
Forbes as a sawyer on the gang. To run the gang for 
twenty-four hours required four gang sawyers and two 
slabbers. Allen worked on the gang for nearly a year^ 
his companions were Nicholas Dolloff, Jesse Smith and 
William Clark, all of whom afterwards became promi- 
nent men in the country. Sawyers in those days 
worked for twelve hours and something more ; their 
tours were from 12 o'clock to 12 o'clock ; and as one 
sett went '■'■ off tou7-" the other were required to be on 
hand to go "o?i t(ncr\''' the mills were not permitted to 
shut down, Mr. Allen writes, many years ago, "The 
entire business of the place at the time of my moving 
into the country was the cutting of about three million 
feet of boards a year, which w'as mostly run down the 
river, and the major part of the provisions and grocer- 
ies used by the people were brought from Pittsburg in 
keel boats." The Durham boats wdiich were constantly 
plying to and fro on the Allegheny river, and up the 
Conewango to Mayville, brought up to the rapids 
most miscellaneous cargoes of flour and pork, dried 
fruits, potatoes, codfish, tobacco, whiskey, nails, glass, 
castings, mill gearing, etc., etc. 

After Dr. Foote purchased the reserved lot east of 
Judge Prendergast, Allen built a single saw mill, and 
built w^hat is now known as the lower or Piousville 
dam, and a house near by, in which he lived for seve- 



398 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ral years. A mill as then located has been continued 
up to the present time, and is now owned by John T. 
Wilson. 

Many years ago he sold this mill, and purcliased 
what was then known as the Merrills farm on the south 
side of the outlet, and on which he afterwards resided 
up to the time of his death. He laid out several streets 
and sold a number of village lots on land which was 
not then in, but was contiguous to the village. This 
entire farm is now cut up into village lots, and a large 
portion covered with residences. The first liouse built 
on the Merrill purchase was Mr. Allen's ])ome. It was 
a long, one-stor\^ house, south of what is now iVllen 
street, and east of a small creek which runs through 
the land. He afterwards built a large woodtMi man- 
sion on ground now occupied by the large brick I'esi- 
dence owned by Mr. Kimball. This he af;er\vardssold 
to a Dr. Wellington, a Spiritualist, for a school; it soon 
after became a Water and Electric cure eslahlishment, 
and finally burned up. To General Allen is due the 
credit, more than to any other man, of Iniilding up the 
town on the south side of the outlet. In 184o he 
bought twelve acres owned by Dr. Laban Hazeltine, 
between Allen, Warren and Mechanic street, cut it up 
into village lots, and speedily had it covered with resi- 
dences. Although there was at this time a number of 
scattered residences on the south side of the outlet, and 
especially on Quaker and on Allen streets, it is from 
the period when these lands were cut up into village 
lots that active building on the south side commenced. ' 
From about that time the building up of the town in 
all directions has become rapid. It was not a decade 
previous to that time, when the general opinion was 
that the south side would be but little used for residen- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 399 

ces, but the result forced a change in opinion. A de- 
cade after that time, if any business man in Jamestown 
should have expressed the opinion, that the fringe of 
swamp on both sides of the outlet from the steamboat 
landing to Piousville would be covered with immense 
factories and fine residences he would have been con- 
sidered a fit candidate for a Lunatic Asylum. But all 
of this and more has already transpired. We have a 
large swamp territory still remaining; we hope no one 
will propose sending us to Tinkertown, because we now 
express the opinion that fifty years from now, a person 
visiting Jamestown would not have the least suspicion 
that there was ever an acre of swamp land between 
Prendergast Park at the foot of the lake and Falconer. 
Horace Allen was one of our noted military men. 
In 1820 he was made a Captain of Infantry in the 162d 
Reg., and his commission was signed by De Witt Clin- 
ton. In 1823 he became the Colonel of that regiment, 
and his commission was again signed by De Witt 
Clinton. In 1826 he was appointed General of the 
4od Brigade, and his commission bore the signature 
of Governor Joseph C. Yates. In 1829 he became Maj. 
General of the 26th Division of N. Y. State Infantry, 
his commission coming from Gov. E. T. Troup. In 
1832 he received his discharge, which was signed by 
Adjt. Gen. John A. Dix. General Allen was once, per- 
haps twice. Supervisor of the town. He was for several 
years a worthy member of the Congregational church; 
when the church was divided in 1834 he went with the 
Presbyterian portion, and was an active and prominent 
member of that church as long as he lived. Genera] 
Allen died at his residence in Jamestown October 1% 
1863, aged 73 years;, his wife Fannie (Fenton) Allen, 
survived him, and died in January, 1873, at the age of 



400 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

81. There were born to Horace and Fannie (Fenton) 
Allen three sons. Dana H. Allen died a few years ago 
at his residence in Jamestown. Dwight, the second 
son, if we remember correctly, emigrated to California. 
Albert, the youngest, emigrated to the west several 
years ago, and is now a merchant in the city of Du- 
buque, Iowa. The family have now all disappeared 
from our midst. General Horace Allen was among 
the most important of our early settlers. 

Jesse Smith was among the earliest comers to 
the hamlet at the rapids in 1814. He was one of the 
first sawyers in the mills, and in company with Capt. 
Dix built the first building erected here. Not long after 
his coming he married Emily, the eldest daughter of 
Capt. Dix, by whom he had six children. The eldest 
of these was Gilbert Dollofi Smith, spoken of in Chap. 
X. His eldest daughter became the wife of Geo. W. 
Parker, the second principal of Jamestown Academy. 
Parker read law in S. A. Brown's office, and not 
long after removed to New York, where he still resides 
if living ; we believe his wife died several years ago. 
Clement, the second son, is a merchant in Riceville, 
Pa. The younger children we do not justly remem- 
ber. One of the daughters married Mr. Winsor. Jesse 
Smith moved from Jamestown to Riceville and then 
to Panama many years ago. There is no one of the 
early settlers we more thoroughly remember than Jesse 
Smith, but our material on hand from which to write 
the history of him and his family is strangely meager, 
and it is now too late to gather it from members of his 
family yet living. All we can say is this: Jesse Smith 
as long as we knew him was a hard-working man, and 
a temperance man, when it was 4iot easy to be such. 
Many years ago, long before he went to Riceville, he 



I 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 401 

removed to Panama. He may have resided at Rice- 
ville a short time, if so he again retm-ned to Panama. 
Smith and his wife both died at Panama at an ad- 
vanced age, but we are not able to give the dates of 
their death. 

Phineas Palmiter, Sen. and Jr. — Phineas Pal- 
miter so frequently spoken of in this volume was 
Phineas Palmiter, Jr. The elder Phineas Palmiter was 
a Revolutionary soldier and came in with his brother- 
in-law, Cyrus Fish, in 1814. He took up land on the 
east side of the road opposite to where Whitman Pal- 
mer has so long resided. Phineas Palmiter, Jr., came 
in after his father, but during the same year. The 
half block, bounded b}^ Third street on the north. 
Spring street on the west, and Second street on the 
south, was first taken up by Nicholas Dolloff, and he 
built a plank house near the spring, which was prom- 
inent in early days, and gave name to the adjoining 
street. This propert}^ afterwards became Palmiter's 
homestead. Jason, the eldest son of Phineas Palmi- 
ter, Jr., still lives at the corner of Spring and Second 
streets, on the ground once occupied by C. R. Harvey's 
blacksmith shop. Phineas Palmiter, .Jr., had four 
children, who lived to adult age. Amanda, Sevila, 
Jason and Jane. Jane became the wife of Wm. Lan- 
don, who died about forty years ago; Sevila became the 
wife of Steplien H. Crissey. Both died many years 
ago. Amanda was the wife of R. D. Warner, and had 
a large family of children. Several 3'ears ago the 
family emigrated to Missouri, where those now living 
still reside. Amanda died during the past year ; she 
was the first girl born in Jamestown. Several years 
ago Phineas Palmiter, .Jr., during a visit to his son-in- 
law Warner, who was keeping a hotel in Pittsfield, Pa., 



402 THE EARLY IIISTOKY OF 

was thrown from a buggy and so injured that he soon 
after died. I'hineas Fahniter, Sen., died at least fifty 
years ago. Abraham Staples, who died at a great age 
two or three years ago at Dexterville, was a brother-in- 
law of Phineas, Jr., they having married sisters by the 
name of Morgan. Staples was a carpenter and one of 
Ellicott's early settlers. 

CYRUS FISPI 

With a large family, came into the country in 
1814 with Phineas Palmiter, Sen. and Stephen AVilcox 
and their families. Fish was originally from Stoning- 
ton, Ct. He enlisted when he was eighteen and served 
through the Revolutionary war. He married Bridget 
Jones in Groton, Ct.; she was ten years old wJien the 
battle of Lexington was fought, and went into the field 
and caught her father's horse while he prepared his 
gun and accoutrements to go to this first battle of the 
Revolution. They afterwards removed ^o Hill bar- 
racks (now Albany) and afterwards to Unadilla Forks. 
Wilcox took up the farm on which Wm. Root now re- 
sides, and Fish settled on the lower side of the road be- 
tween Root's and Henry Baker's. (The road formerly 
made a bend to the south around the hill.) Near 
Fish's house was one of the early grave yards of the 
country — whether its location has been preserved, we 
are not informed. Fish during the war took a severe 
cold, which affected his lungs and from which he never 
recovered. He died and was buried on his wilderness 
farm in 1817; his wife died in 1820 and was also buried 
there. They had a large family of children, all now 
dead we believe excepting Mrs. Henry Baker. His 
eldest son, Cyrus, built a mill on a small stream empty- 
ing into the Cassadaga, known years ago as the Clove 
run, and there set up the first shingle machine in the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 403 

country. Many years ago he emigrated to Iowa, and 
there died in 1871. His only son was a victim of the 
war of the Rebellion, two of his daughters returned to 
Ellicott ; Maria became the second wife of the late 
Daniel Williams of Ashville, and Susan, the second 
wife of Dr. G. W. Hazeltine, of Jamestown. Sheldon, 
who studied law in the office of Joseph Waite, died in 
Wisconsin; and Artemas, the j^^oungest son, in James- 
town. Grace became the wife of Elijah Akins, and 
Harriet became the wife of Jesse Landon, who was the 
son of Reuben Landon, who built the first bridge across 
the outlet at the rapids in 1814. Jesse and Harriet 
(Fish) Landon had a large family. William died in 
Jamestown several years ago. Harvey died in Iowa. 
Lawrence, a member of Co. B, was killed in the war of 
the Rebellion ; Cyrus resides in Chicago, Charles is 
a banker in Plainview, Minnesota, and A. J. Landon is 
one of Jamestown's manufacturers. Maria Fish be- 
came the second wife of the late Henry Baker in 1828, 
and is the mother of his children, and is still living. 
Lucy, the youngest daughter of Cyrus Fish, Sen., died 
at the house of Henry Baker several years ago. 

MILTOX SHERWIX 

An important early settler, came to the rapids in 
1815, making the journey from Saratoga county with 
an ox team, in company with Oliver Higley and 
family, making the trip in a little more than a month, 
which was good time for those days. Mr. Sherwin first 
settled in what is now the town of Busti, on lands 
which afterwards belonged to Gideon Gifford and now 
to Walter, a son of the late Gideon Gifford. There was 
but one farm taken up and an improvement upon it 
at that time, between him and the rapids, and that was 
Deacon Wm. Deland's, afterwards known as the Solo- 



404 THE EARLY HISTORY Of 

mon Butler farm, and is owned now, we are informed, 
by William Broadhead. Mr. Sherwin married Flora, 
daughter of Samuel Griffith and grand daughter of 
Jeremiah Griffith, in 1822. He became a resident of 
Jamestown in 1828, but had done much work here 
previous to that time. He became a member of the 
Congregational church at its organization in 1810. He 
was one of Jamestown's early builders and mill wrights. 
He is still living, next to Wm. H. Fenton, the father 
of the town. 

ABRAHAM WINSOR 

Was one of a Rhode Island family numbering 
twenty children. He married Sophia Bigelow in 1802, 
and came west into Madison Co., N. Y. to reside. He 
removed from there with his family in 1810, and came 
to Chautauqua, his first location being at Sinclair's — 
now Sinclairville. He was a Lieutenant in the war of 
1812. I have not been able to obtain the precise date 
of his removal from Sinclairville to Jamestown, but I 
do remember attending a house warming in a buildings 
erected by him, and in which now Mrs. Ezra Wood re- 
sides. His own family was half the size of his father's 
and we well remember when as men or boys they were 
all of them residents of Jamestown. 

SAMUEL B. WINSOR, 

A son of Abraham Winsor, was born in 1805 and 
has always remained a resident of Jamestown since 
his father's settlement here. To-day, seemingly he is 
as smart and active as forty years ago and can put up 
a log house as quickl}^ and as well — taking the one on 
Marvin Park as a sample. The number of buildings 
erected by him in this town if counted up would be 
something amazing. His trade was that of a carpen- 
ter but emphatically he was a builder. Sa77i has been 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 405 

one of Jamestown's military men, although he has 
never smelt powder where they burned it in quantity* 
and were careless in the use of their guns. In 1824 he 
enlisted in "Tom Harvey's" Green Rifles 162 Reg. 43d 
Brigade, N. Y. State militia. A year later he was 
honored with a Corporal's warrant in that crack com- 
pany and two years later received a Captain's commis- 
sion in the best company ever formed in Chautauqua 
Countj^ previous to the w^ar. In 1829 he had reached 
the height of his military ambition and was raised to 
the command of the old 162d, the proudest looking 
regiment, either fighting or non-fighting, that James- 
town has ever beheld. The Colonel has been a useful 
man in Southern Chautauqua from boyhood to old 
age. When called hence, although the then resident 
minister of the Methodist church of which he has so 
long been an adorning member will preach his funeral 
sermon, nevertheless a military funeral should be 
awarded. In 1831 he married Anna Sears, daughter 
of William Sears, one of the earliest settlers of what is 
now known as Kiantone. In a conversation with Mr. 
Winsor a few days ago he related the following anec- 
dote illustrating the generosity of Judge Prendergast 
and the way he assisted in every good cause in the 
early days. He said, "I have been a member of the 
Jamestown Methodist Episcopal church for over 56 
years. When we were building the old church we 
had hard work to pull through with all the help we 
could get — our members were poor and not able to give 
much. In 1832 I took the job of finishing and seating 
the church at a much less figure than it was worth, but 
I thought that by hard work I could accomplish it. 
I went to Judge Prendergast and told him just how it 
was. He said to me, *Sam, you go up,(where Pine street 



406 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

now joins Main street), cut your loc^s and draw them to 
the mill.' I did so. The lumber was sawed,and I accom- 
plished the work I had agreed to do. We raised some 
money which I concluded I would go and pay to the 
Judge on the lumber. He brought out the bill and it 
was a large one, as I expected. He inquired particu- 
larly about our church— how we were getting along, 
how much I had lost by the job, tfec. He took the bill 
and receipted it in full, remarking, 'Sam, you are a 
young man, that will help to give you a start.' I 
never think of that transaction without feeling that 
there is a very soft place in my heart for Judge Pren- 
dergast, and I could mention many other cases show- 
ing the nobleness and kindness of that man. He did 
good even to his enemies; he was a father and a 
brother to all of us." 

AUGUSTUS MOON 

Was the first settler between the rapids and Walk- 
up's mill on the Cassadaga six miles above. He served 
during the war, and in 1814 came from Canandaigua 
with a friend named Dr. Jaffrey Thomas. They came 
in the middle of winter. The snow was deep and it was 
difficult to keep the Indian trails they were obliged 
to travel. The day after his arrival at the rapids he 
retraced his steps one and one-half miles to a low, 
gloomy valley, dark with the large pines and hem- 
locks with which it was crowded and in which the 
howl of the wolf seldom ceased. The locality was then 
noted for being the wildest and most gloomy and as 
containing more wild, dangerous animals than any 
other in the country. But it struck the fancy of Moon 
and a few days later he had in his pocket an article 
for a mile square containing several hundred acres. 
The rich farms of Deacon Blanchard and of his son 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 407 

Flint and surrounding farms are a part of that pur- 
chase. Moon who was a stout, hardy and withal go- 
ahead man, went immediately to work and built a log 
house. Finding on a portion of his purchase a suffic- 
ient number of maple trees to make it an object, he 
tapped about 50 of them and made a quantity of sugar 
W'hicli he boxed up and placed under the floor of his 
house. After this commencement he went east for his 
wife returning as soon as the journey could be made. 
He found his house all right, but the sugar gone, the 
Indians had used it up. Mr. Moon was soon joined by 
three of his brothers, Gideon, Jonathan and Samuel, 
to whom he sold each a portion of his land. For 
many years the locality was known as the Moon 
neighborhood. Jeffrey T. Moon, our noted policeman, 
is a son of Augustus Moon, 

AMOS FERGUSON, 

A special friend of Moon's, settled in an early day 
on the farjn which has since been occupied by his son 
Amos, the poet. Frequently they would meet at the 
old Allen tavern in Jamestown and flip the copper for 
farms. Gust would say, "^Ime;, you liave got a good 
farm and I have got a good farm, both paid for — I will 
flip a copper with you to see which shall have both." 
" Done, Gust, flip away." The one beat would say, 
" Weill guess it was a fair tfip, but will treat and back 
down." This operation would be kept up until the 
landlord informed them that they had as heavy a 
load as their horses could draw home; they were placed 
in their wagons and their faithful horses would go di- 
rectly home, with great intelligence, avoiding stumps 
and keeping in the road without staggering. 

THE STRUNKS, 

For a correct understanding of those early set- 



408 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

tiers ill the north part of the town, the Strunks, 
it becomes necessaiy that we enter more fully into 
their history than we should otherwise do, for the 
space we intended to occupy is already used up. 
About the year 1750 a brother and sister, named Henry 
or Hendrick, and Katherine Strunk landed in the city 
of New York. They probably came from Lippe Det- 
mold in the north of Germany, as there are families 
still residing there of that name. They were poor, 
and as was then customary, their labor was sold for a 
series of years to pay their passage to this country. 
Henry was sold for five and Katherine for three years. 
Henr}^, after regaining his freedom, married in Albany 
and settled eight miles east of Troy, where he suffered 
all the ravages and privations, induced by the British 
soldiery during the Revolutionary war. Notwith- 
standing the changes and vicissitudes of an eventful 
life, he raised a large family, became moderately 
wealthy and lived to a ripe old age, leaving ten 
children, the last of whom was born in the year 1775. 
Of these the 4th, Elsie, the 7th Jacob, and the 8th 
John, emigrated to the town of EUicott and settled as 
hereinafter stated. 

Elsie Strunk married Jonas Simmons, a native 
of Berlin, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., a descendant of one of 
the earliest settlers of that county. We have to record 
of Jonas that he was a Tory during the Revolution, 
and Avas with Burgoyne's army in 1777. When it was 
seen that a retreat was the only resource for the Brit- 
ish forces, Simmons was one of a party sent to clear the 
roads blockaded by timber felled by the Federal forces 
to prevent Burgoyne's retreat. This part}', instead of 
clearing the roads made quick steps for the wilds of 
Canada. After the war Simmons returned to Rensse- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 409 

laer County, and married Elsie Strunk in 1785. Tor- 
ies were not held in high esteem in that locality in 
those days and Jonas in 1809, came to the wilds of 
Chautauqua in search of a more congenial home. He 
made claim to the farm now owned by Gilbert Strunk 
at Fluvanna, returned to Rensselaer County, and dur- 
ing the following year emigrated with his family to 
his new home. He was accompanied by John 
Strunk, his wife's brother, and Benjamin Lee, whose 
sister was Strunk's wife. Simmons had 15 children, 13 of 
whom came with him. John Strunk had six children, 
four of whom came with him to Ellicott. Twenty 
children probably formed the largest train of emigrant 
school timber that ever moved into the county. John 
Strunk located on the farm now owned and occupied 
by Dwight Strunk, the grandson of his brother Jacob. 
Benjamin Lee afterwards married Katharine, a 
daughter of Jacob Strunk, and located a farm, north 
of the one taken up by Jonas Simmons. Jonas was 
one of our greatest hunters in those early days; he 
was a noted marksman, delighted in the chase and 
spent much of his time in liunting down the wild ani- 
mals of the much wilder country. Jonas Simmons's 
large family furnished wives to some of the best of our 
early settlers, and from whom have descended some 
of the most prominent and most Avorthy of our citizens. 
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, married John M. Pierce 
in 1804, and came to Chautauqua with her father in 
1810, bringing her husband and one child with her, 
who in 1842 became the second wife of Hemy Strunk, 
her aunt, Anna Simmons, being his first wife. Elsie 
Simmons became the wife of Samuel Griffith, who died 
in the year 1876 at the age of 84, his wife surviving. 
Sally A. Simmons, born in 1802, married Joseph 



410 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Cook, who first resided at Fluvanna, afterwards at Dex- 
terville. They had six children. Mr. Cook met with 
an accident and had his right arm amputated; many 
will remember him as "one-armed Cook;" his wife 
survived him several years, dying- in 1878 at the age 
of 70. Abagail Simmons married Holder Giflord for a 
first husband, by wliom she had two children; after- 
wards she was married to John Camp by wdiom she 
had three children. She died at the age of 70 in 1874. 
Anise Simmons married James Ploss of Ellery, by 
whom she had eleven children. She died several 
years ago. Almira Simmons, the youngest of the 
daughters, became the wife of Henry, the son of John 
Strunk. 

John Stkunk had six children; he died at the 
age of 80 in the year 1856, He was a genial, intelli- 
gent man, full of anecdotes and fond of companion- 
ship and the bottle. He was in the habit of coming to 
Jamestown about twice a month. On these occasions 
he would imbibe liberally of the juice of the rye, and 
then entertain those fond of good stories m Solomon 
Jones's bar room as long as prudent, and when quite 
mellow would have his half-gallon jug of Fenton & 
Whittemore's make filled with Monongahela and start 
for home. This jug furnished the daily stimulant un- 
til tlie next visit. His first wife, Mary Lee, concluded 
that the best way to reclaim him would be to doctor 
the jug, as her best efforts at argument and persuasion 
were not productive of the desired results. Uncle 
John was a good talker, and would have some apt 
story at command which would completely upset her 
best efforts at argument. Under these circumstances 
she called Dr. Laban Hazeltinein consultation. They 
concluded that three grains of tartar emetic thorouerh- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 411 

ly dissolved and added to the jug when full, would be 
a good thing for the jug. The remedy was tried with 
excellent results. When the jug came home she 
would have a powder well dissolved in waiting, which 
she added to its contents and then the jug was well 
shaken. The next morning uncle John would imbibe 
his usual dose and drool and spit and declare he be- 
lieved he was going to be sick; would take a second 
dose as a remedy, and was sick unto vomiting. At 
first he was alarmed and would send for the doctor^ 
who knowing the cause, would tell him he was afraid 
that whiskey was destroying the coats of his stomach 
and he had better stop using it. Finally he came to 
the conclusion that the doctor was right, that the coats 
of his stomach had been injured; and he would cease 
drinking for several weeks, then hoping that the lin- 
ing of his stomach had recuperated he would come to 
town and get the jug refilled; but the watchful wife 
was prepared, he would have another turn of drooling, 
sickness and vomiting and finally was full}^ convinced 
that whiskey did not agree with his jnjured stomach 
under any circumstances and gave up its use for a long 
time. After his second marriage he considered it a 
duty to celebrate the occasion. There was no one to 
doctor the jug, the coats of his stomach to his great 
joy were healed; whiskey did agree with him, and 
never disagreed afterwards as long as he lived. 

Jacob Strunk and elder brother of John IStrunk 
had ten children. He inherited the old homestead in 
Rensselaer county and was in tolerable circumstances, 
but disliking the tenure by which his land was held, 
and having so large a family to provide for, he con- 
cluded to remove to the then El Dorado of the west. 
In October, 1816, with his large familv he started for 



412 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the land of promise. He made a favorable trip, with- 
out adventure, and immediately settled on lot 53, town 
2, range 11, where he lived the remainder of his life in 
comfortable circumstances. He died in the year 1836, 
after a twenty years' residence in his new home. 

Wm. H. Strunk, his son, who had resided with 
him, and who 1 became one of Ellicott's rich men, 
succeeded his father on the farm, to which he added 
acre after acre and farm after farm, until he was one 
of the largest, if not the largest land owner in the 
town. In 1834 he was married to Jane A, Van Vleck 
b}^ whom he had ten children. He was foremost in im- 
proving the breeds of stock, especially of swine and 
sheep. He was charitable to the poor, and gave lib- 
erally for religious purposes. 

Henry Strunk, the eldest son of Jacob Strunk, 
came into the county with his father in 1816. Being 
strong, vigorous, full of energy and ambition, he did 
not remain under the parental roof, but struck out for 
himself. His energy conquered all difficulties, and he 
became one of our wealthy, solid citizens. He pur- 
chased the farm of his father-in-law, Jonas Simmons, 
on which he resided over fifty years, rendering it one 
of the most desirable and beautiful farms in the coun- 
try. In 1871, being in broken health, he sold his farm 
to his son Gilbert, and removed to Fluvanna, where he 
died in 1877, in the 83d year of his age. Few men were 
more widely known in Chautauqua, and none more 
generally respected. He had gained an enviable rep- 
utation for reliabilit}^ in all his dealings, and for his 
enterprise and laudable ambition in improving his 
farm and his stock. He was a leader among the thrifty 
farmers of Chautauqua. His maxim was "thorough- 
ness in whatever you undertake." He was always 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 413 

abreast and frequently in advance of the times in all 
improvements in the use of modern methods. He 
wanted the best of everything- and he had them. 

Walter, the eldest son of Henry Strunk, married 
Polly, a daughter of Jacob Peterson. Pie has for many 
years been one of EUery's substantial farmers. Elmira 
Strunk in 1843 married Ira Young, who during his life 
was a prominent farmer and stock raiser in Busti. 
Mr. Young died in 1879. His wife survives him. Gil- 
bert Strunk married Cornelia A. Burtisin 1859; is now 
living on the old homestead, one of the rich, go-ahead 
farmers of Ellicott. George W. and Elias D. many 
years ago emigrated to the west, where they still 
reside. The youngest son, Marshall P. Strunk, is a 
lawyer in Jamestown. 

Polly, a sister of Henry Strunk, married Rev. Ab- 
ner Barlow in 17'23. In 1835 they removed to Wis- 
consin. Polly faithfully shared with her husband the 
trials and privations of a missionary life in the west. 
She died in 1876, leaving a family of eleven children. 
Byron A., a son of Abner Barlow, has been for several 
years a resident of Jamestown, an active and successful 
lawyer. 

Whatever may be our occupations or conditions 
in life — day laborer, mechanic, farmer, merchant, or 
dispensers of the professions, we cannot do better than 
to adopt the motto of Henry Strunk, "Whatever you 
do, do thoroughly." 

JUDSON SOUTHLAND 

Came into the county in the spring of 1818, taught 
school in Mayville during the summer, returned on 
horse back to Grafton, Mass., married Rhoda Forbush 
in May, 1819, and then returned to Chautauqua. He 
drove a three-horse team and had a tedious journey. 



414 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

111 1820 he built a plank house on what is now known 
as English hill; in 1825 he came to Jamestown, and 
kept the Allen tavern for a year, and in the meantime 
built a long, one-story house on the corner of Pine and 
Fourth street, where F. A. Fuller's residence now 
stands. Pie was for many 3^ears Deputy Sheriff of the 
county, and finally one term Sheriff commencing Jan. 1, 
1838. In 1841 he purchased the farm east of the Uriah 
Bentlyfarmin Busti,now known as the Southland farm, 
where he resided up to the time of his death. South- 
land had a large family of children. I think there are 
but two of the sons living at the present time. Silas, 
thr eldest and the hero of Smith's school, lives on the 
homestead, Edward in Toledo, O., and the two daugh- 
ters in Iowa. 

URIAH BENTLEY 

It is said, came into the county but a short time 
after James Prendergast took his celebrated ti'amp 
after the horses, coming down from Mayville to Miles 
landing in the Miles canoe. He finally settled on lot 
9, range 12, tp. 2. He built a log house, and in the 
fall of 1809 he returned to Rensselaer Co., and the next 
year with his family came back to his new home. As 
near as we can remember Mr. Beiitley died about forty 
years ago. He was a man of energy, and as the old 
laying was, full of days work. He cleared up a fine 
farm, on which his son Gustavus now resides. He had 
a large family of children, of which Gustavus is the 
only one now living. He spent nearly all his days, 
and raised his large family in the log house under the 
hill. A year or so before his death he erected a fine 
brick mansion in which his son now resides. We be- 
believe it was the first brick residence erected in the coun- 
trv — at least we remember no other. This exhausts our 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 415 

memorandums relating to Uriah Bentley excepting 
the account of the meeting at Frank's already given. 
Among early settlers he was a prominent and impor- 
tant man. 

JOSHUA WOODWARD 

Came into the country in 1816, and settled on lot 
52, now in the town of Poland. He had five sons, all 
of w^hom, we believe, are now dead. A grandson of 
Mr. Woodward now occupies the old homestead. 

AARON FORBES 

Settled in the town of Ellicott in 1814 on lot 57, 
now in the town of Poland. He had four sons, all now 
dead except Levi, wdio lives on the old homestead 
taken up by his father 73 years ago. 

SAMUEL HALLIDAY 

As long ago as we can remember, lived a neighbor 
of Forbes. He died many years ago leaving several 
sons, one of wdiom now has the honor of being the 
present efficient President of the Chautauqua County 
Agricultural Society. .His mother, we think, was a 
daughter of Ezra Smith, another early settler in that 
neighborhood. Smith's mother lived to be over 100 
years old. 

RUSSELL D. SHAW 

Came to Jamestown in the year 1828. He had 
been a druggist in Alban}', and was burned out. Soon 
after he came to Jamestown he set up a drug store in a 
story and a half building which stood just north of 
Fenner's brick store on the east side of Main street ; a 
store in which so many, first and last, commenced mer- 
chandizing, and which burned up several years ago. 
A year or so later his brother, Warner D., came to 
town, purchased his store and Russell D. moved to Flu- 
vanna. Afterwards he returned to Jamestown and en- 



416 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

gaged in hotel keeping and other pursuits. He had a 
large family of children, many of them now dead. 
Thos. A. Shaw of our city was, I think, his eldest son. 
Nelson Griffith married the eldest daughter. Another 
daughter was the wife of Capt. Darwin Willard, killed 
at the battle of Williamsburg, now the wife of John 
Vanderburgh. A third daughter married Alfred Dun- 
ham. 

WAKNER I). SHAW, 

After running the drug store for two or three years 
bought the old Solomon Jones tavern and ran it for 
several years as Shaw's hotel. His wife was the 
daughter of Benjamin .Runyan. They had, I think, 
five children. His eldest son, William, is a noted hotel 
man, the eldest daughter became the wife of E. P. Up- 
ham, and the second of B. B. Partridge. Mr. Shaw 
afterwards bought the Allen house, which was de- 
stroyed by fire in the great disaster of 1861. He after- 
wards erected on the same ground a larger building, of 
poor brick and illy calculated for a hotel. It is now 
the property of F. E. Clifford, who has remodeled it 
into stores and offices. We understand Mr. Shaw is 
still living with his youngest son in Michigan. He 
has been one of Jamestown's most prominent citizens. 

OLIVER SHEARMAN 

Came to Ellicott in 1828 and bought the Amos 
Bird farm, upon which his son, Gideon Shearman, now 
lives. Mr. Shearman's wife died before he came into 
the country, but he had a large famih^ of grown up 
children. He was an excellent farmer, a man of great 
natural abilities, and as a mathematician excelled by 
few. 

.TOSEPH GARFIELD, SEN., 

Was a brother of Deacon Samuel Garfield, the in- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 417 

ventor of the patent scythe snath mentioned in C'hapter 
VI; they were born in Worcester Co., Mass. Tiie Gar- 
fields, through many generations, were defenders of 
the country down to our Lamented president Gen. Gar- 
field, who sprang from the same family stock. Elia- 
kim Garfield, the father, who was a soldier of tlie Rev- 
olution, removed with his family from Massacliusetts 
to Vermont soon after the war; Joseph was born in 1780, 
and w^as but a boy at the time of the removal. In 1803 
he married Lydia Stearns of Stratton, Vt. He served 
as Captain during the war of 1812. One pleasant day 
in May, 1815, Samuel Garfield, who came in the year 
previous, was agreeably surprised to see his brother 
Joseph enter his log house in the wilderness ; he had 
walked the whole distance from Vermont to Busti. In 
those early days, however, when three-quarters of the 
whole state was yet a wilderness, and civilization and 
its accompanying good roads was confined to the 
neighborhood of the Hudson river, walking to a man 
inured to labor was the easiest and most expeditious 
mode of traveling then in vogue. He spent the sum- 
mer in viewing the country, and early in the fall pur- 
chased a farm on the Conewango about two miles 
above wliat is now the village of Russellsburg, and 
which for many years past has been known as the Sloan 
farm. In November he returned to Vermont, this 
time on horseback. The next spring he returned with 
his family and commenced his battle wdth the wilder- 
ness. Three years afterwards he sold this Pennsylvania 
farm, and in 1820 bought the farm two miles south 
from Jamestown, upon which he resided up to the day 
of his death. Garfield was among the foremost of our 
early farmers ; his farm was among the first in the 
country in appearance, eliciting the remark of the 



418 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

passerby, "a farmer lives there." Joseph and Lydia 
(Stearns) Garfield had seven children, all now dead ex- 
cept the eldest son, Eliakim. Hannah, the eldest 
daughter, became the wife of Richard Hiller. Samuel 
was the second son. Anna became the wife of Joseph 
Bacon, and Lydia the wdfe of Martin Grout. Joseph 
was the youngest son ; Sally Ann, the youngest 
daughter, died many years ago wdien about twenty 
years of age. 

ELIAKIM GARFIELD. 

The eldest son of Joseph Garfield, was born in Ver- 
mont, and came into the country when a bo}^ with his 
father in 1816. He was one of the rugged, tough, ac- 
tive, stout young men of Ellicott sixty years ago. He 
is now an old man, but when a young man, there was 
no other in the country who could and who did, the 
herculean labor performed by Eliakim Garfield. In 
1829 he bought the beautiful farm on which he now 
resides, with his earnings as sawyer in the mills, and 
in rafting and running the lumber to market. In 18£0 
he married Perscilla, daughter of Aaron Root. In 1833 
he was elected Captain of the celebrated " Harvey Ri- 
fles," which was public honor enough for him ; we are 
not aware that he has been guilty of holding any other 
office, unless it may have been path master. He has 
been noted as a raiser and owner of fine cattle and 
horses, and for man}^ years has been a prominent pre- 
mium taker at our Agricult ural fairs. For several years 
he has been a prominent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Jamestown, To Eliakim and 
Perscilla (Root) Garfield were born six children, all 
now living. 

ELISHA ALLEN 

Came to the rapids in 1815, and bought the tavern 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 419 

then building by Dix and Smith, and other property, 
and in the spring of 1816 returned to Vermont. In 
the spring of 1812 he had married Juliette Holbrook in 
Wardsboro. In September of 1813 his eldest son, Au- 
gustus F. Allen, was born in Wardsboro, and precisely 
a year afterwards his son Dascum was born. In the 
summer of 1817 he returned to Jamestown with his 
family, where he remained up to the time of his death 
in 1830. Adeline, his third child, was born in Decem- 
ber, 1817, and died in December 1851. Prudence 
Olivia was born in 1821, and died in 1854. Abner H. 
was born in 1823 and died in 1848. 

AUGUSTUS F. ALLEN, 

From earliest manhood, was one of Jamestown's 
most energetic business men. He was a man of great 
financial ability, and from 1830 up to the time of his 
death stood in the first rank, and during a large por- 
tion of that time at the head of that rank in the town 
of Ellicott. He was in every, and the best senseofthe 
term, a self-made man. No man during that time did 
more — unless it be his brother Dascum — in building 
up Jamestown and its interests than he. He was for 
several years the Supervisor of the town; in 1867 he 
was elected a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of that year, and in 1874 was elected to Congress. 
But his health became impaired during the long po- 
litical struggle of that year, and he did not live to take 
his seat. He had two children who arrived at matu- 
rit}'', a son and a daughter. The son died several years 
ago ; the daughter is still living. His wife died about 
two years ago. 

DASCUM ALLEN 

Was a born lumberman ; what he did not know 
about that business w^as not worth knowing. He 



420 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was everywhere known from Jamestown to Cincinnati 
as the big-hearted lumberman. If any man had 
been unfortunate and needed assistance, no matter 
Mdiether friend or foe, he liad buttogoto '^Dnsc Allen" 
and his necessities were reheved. He was frequently 
imposed upon by the designing, and lost a good for- 
tune by endorsing the notes of those who never ex- 
pected to pay. His greatest fault was that he loved too 
well his greatest enemy. He died April 7th, 1872. His 
wife, Susan Darling Allen, died April 7, 1886. They 
left three children, Horace F., Florence, the wife of 
Charles W. Grant, and Frank. 

SOLOMON .TONES, 

The fifth son of Solomon Jones, Sen., is still living 
and has been a resident of Jamestown from earliest 
childhood. Fifty years ago Robert Falconer and John 
K. Cowing bought of the Dexters the Dexterville mills 
and lands, and some years afterwards Solomon Jones 
and A. F. Allen purchased Cowing's interest in the 
same, and soon after became sole owners of the prop- 
erty. After the purchase was made Solomon Jones 
removed to Dexterville and took the management of 
the property, and finally purchased liis partner's inter- 
est, and for years has owned the entire property. For 
a few years past he appears to have retired from very 
active employment, but he can generally be seen occu- 
pying a cozy corner of the Chautauqua Co. National 
Bank, of which he has been for many years a director. 
In 1848 he married Elizabeth Cowing, a daughter of 
the late Capt. Calvin Cowing. To them M^asborn one 
son. Frank was an unusually bright young man, but 
he was born with phthisical tendencies and his health 
was always delicate, as such persons are apt to be. He 
received all the advantages of a finished education. 



THE TOAVN OF ELLICOTT. 421 

He spent several years in Europe, part of the time in 
Heidelburg University and part in travel for the ben- 
efit of his health ; but the destroyer had marked his 
victim, and he died about two years after his return, 
Nov. loth, 1873. Elizabeth Cowing died in less than 
two years after her marriage to Mr. Jones, of consump- 
tion. Solomon Jones went to Dexterville a young 
man. The short period of his married life was there 
spent, as well as the long period of his widower life, 
since the death of his wife. Although not a misan- 
thrope or averse to the society of his friends, he has 
lived a life of quiet retiracy, attending to his own af- 
fairs, which have fully occupied bis attention without 
awakening in him the least desire to meddle with the 
affairs of others. Affable in manners, pleasant in con- 
versation, interested in public affairs, a laborer for the 
well being of his native town, generous in advancing 
its interests, charitable to the poor, we can say little 
more of Solomon Jones, Jr., than that he is and al- 
wa^^s has been, "the quiet, unassuming, retiring and 
unostentatious man of Jamestown." 



OUR EARLY ENGLISH SETTLERS. 

There were very few English in Jamestown until 
the building of the Alpaca factories. Of these genuine 
cousins, we now boast a large number, and our only 
regret is that we cannot count four of them where we 
have to content ourselves with one. 

Over fifty years ago there came to our village four 
men — healthy and luirdy looking ; dressed in drab 
fustian and corduroy jackets and small clothes, blue 
knit caps, long stockings reaching above the knee, 
and their feet encased in high, heavy laced brogans, 
with soles nearly an inch thick and full of hob nails. 



423 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

They were working men, and when they pretended to 
work, work it was. They went up on what is now 
known as English hill, and bought land. How much 
they paid down on the land we know not; but they 
could not have been in debt long, for they were full of 
days work, and everybody employed them. Every- 
body wanted to see them work, for they seemed to like 
it, made them happy, and appeared to do them good. 
It was not long before they had converted a large por- 
tion of the low, wet, swampy land in the country into 
nice, dry, plough land. These men are all gone now, 
but they lived to become prominent, and well to do 
citizens in the town of their adoption. They raised 
fair families of children — how many now livihgweare 
not informed. Several of them, when the country 
called, enlisted and went to her defence in the war of 
the Rebellion, and they did not all return. The names 
of these four men were : 
Simon Bootey, 

John Fuller, 

John Wilson. 1st, 

John Wilson, 2d. 

With a few exceptions, the writer has for several 
years past had but slight acquaintance with the child- 
ren of these men, although he used to " doctor'''' them 
when young. To say the least, he hopes none of them 
have turned out worse than have a couple of sons of 
Simon Bootey and one of John Wilson, 2d, with whom 
the writer is well acquainted. 

John Bootey, the eldest son of Simon, commenced 
well in that good old trade of blacksmithing. Now, 
we believe, he is following the profession of making 
harness. 

Edward R. Bootey, a younger brother, has not 



THE TOVVK OF ELLICOTT. 423 

done quite as well; although he commenced as a fight- 
ing soldier in the fighting old 9th New York C-avalry. 
He was fortunate in getting back home, when so many 
of that gallant old regiment have never returned fromi 
the country's defence. They did good work at Win- 
chester when Sheridan was twenty miles away, and 
when he had taken that noted ride, and was back to 
lead them, the war cry was, " Get out of this Early, 
Phil is coming," and he did get out with the old 9th 
close to his heels. When Ed. returned from the wars 
he was not in very good health. Instead of employing 
a doctor as he should, and being remembered by his 
patriotic friends on Decoration day, he was induced to 
take large doses of the law, on winch he thrived, and 
ere long regained his health. It is said he ranks high 
among the lawyers of the county, and has served two 
terms as District Attorney. He has, we think, com- 
menced to decline ; he is now one of our City Alder- 
men. 

John T. Wilson, was a son of the Englishman, 
John Wilson, 2d. He has always been a Democrat, a 
thing very scarce a.nd of little repute in Chautauqua 
county. Furthermore he is one of Jamestown's fore- 
most business men. John was a spindling, rather 
sickly looking boy, but he has gained m health and 
good looks almost as rapidly as he has in wealth and 
business standing in the community. We now believe 
he will outlive any Englishman of the same age, to be 
found in the Pearl City. John T. Wilson is one of 
Jamestown's foremost business men. 

If our new batch of Englisli citizens, witli far su- 
perior advantages, will, according to their numbers, 
in fifty years turn out as many first class Ameyncan 
citizens — men and women — as have Simon Bootey, 



424 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

John Fuller and the Wilsons, the Pearl City will be 
the proudest city of its size in the Empire state. 



SWEDES. 

Jamestown to-day boasts of a population of several 
thousand Swedes. We have no better citizens than 
our Scandinavian population. A prominent one of 
them said (o us a few days ago, '* Please not speak of 
us as Swedes. There are a few Swedes among us, late 
comers, who have not yet obtained their naturalization 
papers, but as soon as they do they will claim, as I do 
now, that they are Yankees and have ceased to be 
Swedes. We love our country, the United States, and 
you well know that many of us have fought for it, and 
what is better, will fight for it whenever the country 
calls." It is nearly, if not quite fifty years ago that 
the first Swede man and family settled at the foot of 
English hill. That man was 

Samuel Johnson. — He was a tanner by trade and 
worked for R. W. Arnold. We named a child of Sam- 
uel Johnson after our own baby daughter, Katie, who 
has aoiie. Katie Johnson, we are informed, became 
the wife of Capt. Conrad Hult. 

Soon after Johnson settled in Jamestown other 
families came, and in a few years our Swede population 
could be counted by the hundred. Since that time 
they hive bocomc numerous, and are counted by the 
thousand. As citizens they are not excelled by any 
others. 

CARROLL. 

From its earliest settlement that part of the town 
of Ellicott now known as Carroll bad a composite 
class of inhabitants. Previous to the emigration to this 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 4^ 

countiy from Vermont and the eastern part of this 
state, there were a few small settlements along the Al- 
legheny river and French Creek, especially in Craw- 
ford and Venango Counties. The route of these early 
settlers, who were mostly from Central and Eastern 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was by the Sinemahon- 
ing and the portage across to the Alleglieny at Olean 
or above, and then down the Allegheny in boats built 
for that purpose. This was the principal route taken by 
the first settlers between Warren and Franklin, and in 
most instances they found their way up the various 
streams emptying into the Allegheny river. In this 
way we trace their course up the Conewango into the 
Beech woods (Farmington) and to Sugar Grove, before 
Southern Chautauqua was settled. 

Carroll was set off from the town of Ellicott in 
1825, and was named in honor of Charles Carroll, one 
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The 
town of Kiantone was taken from the town of Carroll 
in 1853, and received its name from a creek running 
through the south part of the town, known with the 
Indians as the Kiantone. 

Boyles and Walton took articles for lands in this 
portion of the town of Ellicott in 1809 ; but the first 
settler we have any especial knowledge of, was 

GEORGE W. FENTON, 

the father of the Governor. In 1807 he took up lands 
and built a log house near the junction of the Outlet 
with the Cassadaga, at what for many years has been 
known as Plumbs Mills. He had for neighbors James 
Wilson and James Culbertson, who had settled on the 
Outlet a short distance above him the year previous. 
In 1809 he sold his lands at the Cassadaga junction, 
and in the spring of 1810 removed to lot 52 on the 



426 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

east side of the Conewango, about a mile below the 
present village of Frewsburg. George W. Fenton was 
born in New Hampshire in 1773 ; his father soon after 
with his family removed to the State of New York. 
George when of age, left his paternal home in 1804, 
and wandered west through the M'ilderness as far as 
Pittsburgh. He there joined the river boatmen, en- 
gaged in trade with the settlers and Indians along the 
Allegheny river and continued in that business until 
1806. In the year of 1806-7 he taught the first school 
in Warren, Pa. In Warren he married Elsie Owen, 
who was born in Lunenburgh in 1790. Soon after his 
marriage he took up land on the outlet of Chautauqua 
Lake and built a log house as stated above. 

Mr. Fenton continued to reside on his Conewango 
farm up to the time of his death. In his 3'outh he had 
received a good education and was during his whole 
life one of Carroll's most prominent and most intelli- 
gent citizens. He died March 3d, 1860. His widow 
survived him fifteen years and died February 26, 1875. 
They had a family of five children : Roswell O., who 
married Leonora Akins ; George W., Jr., who married 
Metta Howard; William H. H., who married Catha- 
rine Edmunds; John F., who married Maria Wood- 
ward. His youngest son was Reuben E. Fenton, the 
late governor of the State of New York, of whom we 
speak elsewhere. 

.JOHN FREW^, 

the founder of Frewsburg, came in 1812. Hugh Frew, 
his father, settled near by in the adjoining town of 
Farmington, Pa., as early as the year 1800. Soon af- 
ter John Frew had settled on the Conewango he was 
followed by his brother, James, and soon after they 
built a saw mill and afterwards a grist mill on what is 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 427 

known as Frew's Run. The family soon after left 
their farm on the hill (Farmington) and moved down 
into the valley (Frewsburg) where Hugh Frew% the 
father, died in 1831. 

John Frew assisted Edward Work to erect his saw 
mill on the outlet in 1808, and the first lumber cut in 
the mill was by and for John Frew. This lumber 
was plank for eight flat boats which Frew built at 
Work's, took to Mayville, and there loaded with salt, 
which he run down the Lake, Outlet, Conewango and 
Allegheny to Pittsburgh. It was after this that the 
same John Frew brought over from Dunkirk one and 
a half bushels of salt on his back for the settlers who 
were in perishing need of it. It was this same John 
Frew who in the spring of 1813 killed the last deer 
known to have been killed at the great deer lick in the 
foui* corners of Main and Third streets in what is now 
the city of Jamestown. In 1816 he was elected Sup- 
ervisor of the town of Ellicott, an office he continued 
to hold up to 1822. 

We have stated that Hugh Frew settled in the 
Beech woods (Farmington) in the year 1800. His sons 
John and James came into the country with him, and 
also a dozen or more settlers who first settled in the 
Beech woods, or iji Sugar Grove near by, and which 
at that time was but a part of the tract of land known 
by that name. 

Robert Miles, a Frewsburg man, the builder of 
Miles's road to Chautauqua Lake in 1804, (and the 
father of the late Robert Miles of Warren and of Fred- 
dy Miles of Sugar Grove) and several others had come 
in during the last years of the last century, 1796 to 
1798. Among these was the father of Benjamin Ross, 
who built Ross' Mills on the Cassadaga in 1816. 



428 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

When the Frews, Russells and company arrived at 
what is now Warren in 1800, there was but one build- 
ing there and that was the Holland Land Company's 
store. Of course there must have been settlers in the 
vicinity or a store would be unnecessary. The extent 
of our information is, that Daniel Jackson had a small 
mill for grinding grain, the bolt of which was turned 
by hand on Winters's Run. Of course there was or 
had been a man by the name of Winters there — and 
others, or a mill would not be needed. Among those 
who came in with the Frews was 

John Russell and a number of others. James and 
David Brown and a man by the name of Bar, who it 
is believed, settled in or near Sugar Grove. These set- 
tlers were mostly from the settlements on the Sine- 
mahoning in Pennsylvania, except the Browns and 
Bar, who were fresh from the bogs of the Emerald Isle. 
But they were all under the leadership of Russell.who 
was an ingenious mechanic, and had built a boat 
which could in a short time be put together or taken 
in pieces at will. In this boat Russell and his party 
conveyed their goods up the Sinemahoning to Drift- 
wood, where the}^ placed their goods and their boat on 
wagons and followed the Indian trail through the 
wilderness to Canoe Place on the Allegheny river. 
Here they again put their boat together and floated 
down the Allegheny to Warren. This party came 
very near returning to their old home and giving up 
the idea of a life in the wilderness before they reached 
Driftwood. They had several wagons, yokes of cattle, 
and a number of cows, which the Frew\s and others un- 
dertook to pilot through the thickets to that place. In 
this they came near failing. Much of their way they 
had to cut a road for their wairons and to make fre- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT, 429 

quent long detours on atcount of deep impassible 
gulchs, with which the entire country was filled. In 
this portion of their route they did not average one 
mile a day. They were about returning when Rus- 
sell, weary of waiting for them at Driftwood, took the 
back track in search of them. Finding them he dis- 
missed the principal mutineer from the party, who re- 
turned to the settlement alone, and encouraged the 
rest of the party to proceed. John Frew was accus- 
tomed to say those few days were the mOvSt discourag- 
ing of his whole life. John Russell took up lands on 
the Pennsylvania side of the state line and there re- 
resided up to the time of his death in 1818. His son, 
Thomas Russell, moved to the town of Ellicott and 
built a mill on the Cassadaga in the year 1816, and 
there resided for many years. He had a large family 
of children, Angeline Parsons is still living, how many 
more we do not know. He was born in Ireland in 
1783, and died in Jamestown in 1865. 

JOHN OW^EN 

Settled on lot 41 on the east side of the Conewan- 
go in 1808. He came with his family in 1805 to War- 
ren and there resided two years previous to his re- 
moval to Ellicott. He was originall}^ from Connecti- 
cut, and had been a soldier not only in the Revolu- 
tionary but in the Old French War. He was a man 
of infinite humor, and passed through many adven- 
tures, many of them most thrilling, and was always 
well pleased to relate them to those who desired to 
hear them. In early da3^s he kept a tavern at what is 
now Fentonville, and in the spring of the year, during 
the rafting season, his house would overflow with rafts- 
men. He would not be able to accommodate half of 
them with beds, the rest were under the necessity of 



430 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

sleeping on the bar room floor. Although tired and 
weary, after a hard day's work at this laborious occu- 
pation, the raftsmen would quarrel among themselves 
for the privilege of laying on the floor in order to hear 
Owen relate his wonderful stories, and in the morning 
would declare themselves thoroughly rested and re- 
freshed, and that Owen's stories would soften the hard- 
est plank on the Conewango, John Owen lived to be 
107 years old, and during the last days of his life was 
accustomed to declare he never had a sick day in his 
life. John Owen died in Carroll in 1843 of old age. 

Ira Owen was a son of John Om^cu ; he was fond 
of Imnting, and was noted for his deadly aim. He was 
a member of Cap t. Forbes' Company at the battle of Black 
Rock, at which many of the enemy it was said, fell 
victims to his deliberate and deadly aim. Ira could 
not with his father, boast that he never was sick. He 
was severely and dangerously sick once and was cured 
by Dr. Smith of Busti. We believe he emigrated to 
the west ; his brother, 

Ruben Owen, continued to live on the old home- 
stead after his father's death ; he died several 3^ears 
ago. 

JOHN MYERS 

Settled on the Conewango about a mile from 
Frewsburg in 1814. He kept a tavern, and his place 
is known up to the present time as Myers'. He had a 
large family of both sons and daughters. Many of 
the descendants are still living in the town of Car- 
roll. 

There were several other early settlers in that part 
of the town of Ellicott now included in the town of 
Carroll, a few of whom we remember by name but 
of whom we knew but little personall}', and have 




THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 431 

obtained no important items of history. Among 
these are Josiah Wheeler, Robert Cowen, Rufus Green, 
Isaac Eames, Eli Eames and a few others. 



KIANTONE. 

In that portion of the town now known as Kian- 
tone, we have a large number of important early set- 
tlers. Among these we have, first 

JOSEPH AKINS, 

The pioneer settler of this part of the town of Elli- 
cott. He came from Rensselaer Co., and in 1807 
squatted on lands on the Stillwater now^ owned by the 
heirs of Howard Russell. At that time the survey of 
these lands was not complete and were not in market. 
Akins was filled with the idea of building up a town, 
and passed over the heavy pine forests, and swamp 
lands of the outlet, to the dry and hard timbered lands 
of the Stillwater. The next year or the year after he 
laid out liis town and induced Laban Case to build a 
hut of a tavern, and that very necessary thing in a new 
town, a blacksmith shop. We are not aware he ever 
succeeded in selling any village lots — in fact he had 
none to sell, far he had no title to the land he had 
occupied, and after procuring the usual Article could 
not give a deed. In 1813 a great effort was made to 
build up a town at Akins, in opposition to Prendergast 
at the rapids, but failed, and in 1814 the idea was en- 
tirely abandoned. 

BENJAMIN JONES 

Came in 1820, and first lived on a portion of 
the farm of the late A. T. Prendergast. He afterwards 
came in possession of the farm taken up by Solomon 
Jones in 1810, upon which he continued to reside up 



432 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

to the time of his death, a few years ago. He was an 
eccentric man. ahhougii a man of great moral worth 
and abilit3\ Many are the anecdotes told of Uncle Ben 
Jones. He had five children, the youngest, Henry, a 
man of much worth, is full o^' remembrances of the 
good old early times, and during Fair days will gen- 
erally be found busily engaged in arranging a display 
of relics of the days of the fathers. Cynthio, the 
daughter, became the wife of 

Seth Cheney, whom we speak of in this connec- 
tion because of an anniversary celebration held at his 
house on the evening of December 29, 1886. Although 
an impromptu affair, nearly all the old people of the 
county were there excepting ourself, and had a right 
down, old fashioned, jolly time. From the newspaper 
account of this affair we gather that Seth Cheney mar- 
ried Cynthia Jones, Jan. 8th, 1832, and that they have 
had three children, sons. At this jolly affair they had 
a variety of excellent music, Mr. Cheney, although 77 
years old, playing the violin with his old-time spirit 
and energ^^ Mr. Cheney is one of the solid men of 
Kiantone, and the large stone house in which he has 
lived so many years is the land mark of the locality. 
Seth was the youngest son of 

EBENEZER CHENEY, 

Who came into the country in 1812 with a large 
family, all of whom we believe remained and became 
identified with the country. He had eight children — 
three sons and five daughters, who lived to adult age, 
and all identified with the growth and histoiy of the 
country. 

Nelson E. Cheney was the eldest of this family. 
He came into the country with his father, and is no;v, 
we believe the earliest and the oldest of the earliest set- 



THE TOWN OF ELElCOTT, 433 

tiers living. He was in daily attendance at our agri- 
cultural fair (September, 1886,) on Marvin Park, and 
no one appeared to be more interested in the busy 
scene around liim than Nelson E. Cheney ; and few 
were more active in conveying- themselves from one 
part of the park to another than he. But few would 
believe that if his life should be spared five years 
longer, he could celebrate the centennial of an earthly 
existence. Mr. Cheney has raised a large family, but 
how many or where located we are not informed. 
One of his sons was an officer in the fighting 9th New 
York Cavalry, and has represented our county in the 
Assembly of the State, and should again; but so long 
as tricks of chicane will go further than true patriot- 
ism in securing a nomination in a district where a 
nomination is equivalent to an election, we think he 
will appear to the best advantage "holding the plow;" 
that is honest employment, to say the least. Two 
other sons, we believe, are physicians. Ebenezer 
Cheney's second son Levi we have alread}' spoken of 
as a physician, and also of Set h, the youngest. 

JAMES HALL 

Was one of tlie six brothers who at an early day 
emigrated from Windham County, Vt., and became 
residents of this country when a wilderness. William 
and Elisha became residents of .Jamestown, Samuel of 
Busti, and .Josiah and Orris of Warren, Pa. This fam- 
ily has proved, we think, the most important of all, 
that at an early date left the green hills of Vermont 
for the wilds of Chautauqua. 

William Hall, Sen., the father of the Halls who em- 
igrated to Eilicott, was the son- of Elisha and Eliza- 
beth (Young) Hall, and was born in Hopkinton, Mass., 
in 1753. In 1781 he married Abagail Pease, and 



434 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

immediately emigrated to Wardsboro, Vt. To Wil- 
liam Hall, Sen., and Abagail (Pease) Hall were 
born twelve children, seven sons and five daugh- 
ters. Six of the sons and two of the daughters 
found their future homes in this western wilderness. 
The following are the names of the children and the 
years in which they were born. Samuel, 1782; Lydia, 
1784; Lydia, 1785- Lewis. 1788; James, 1790; Mary, 
1792; William,1798; Josiah, 1795; Abagail, 1797; 
Elisha, 1799; Irene, 1801; Orris, 1804. 

James was the first of the sons to emigrate to the 
wilderness of Chautauqua in the spring of 1812. He 
took up lands in that part of the town of Ellicott now 
known as Kiantone, about a mile west from Kiantone 
village, and there resided up to the day of his death in 
1846. He built a log house near where stands the 
farm house which for so many years has been known 
as the James Hall homestead. He immediately 
cleared and put into crops ten acres. In the fall of 
1813 the corn and the wheat he had raised upon his 
small clearing he threshed and husked and stored in 
the loft of his log house, and the vegetables he laid 
away in a hole dug in the ground under the floor. 
Soon after on a warm afternoon, without a coat and 
barefooted, he walked a mile through the woods to as- 
sist a neighbor to put up a log house. His wife took her 
baby in her arms and walked a half mile or more 
through the woods to visit her sister, Mrs. William 
'Sears, leaving the house alone. On her return to pre- 
pare supper, when she reached the little clearing, she 
discovered that the roof of the house was on fire. Lay- 
ing her babe down upon the leaves she ran towards the 
house to save what she could. When she arrived at 
the log fence in front of the liouse, two men well 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 435 

known, stood in the door and with threats bade her 
leave. She hastened to the woods for her baby and as 
quickly as possible returned to her sister's, there to 
await the return of the husband. There was no mis- 
takin^T the object of these ruffians. A few days pre- 
vious Ebenezer Cheney, the father-in-law of Mr. Hall, 
had returned from Vermont, and it was well known he 
was expected to bring a large sum of money with him. 
They supposed the money was in this house — but for- 
tunately was in another — not finding it they fired the 
building to cover up the rumaging they had done in 
the house. Mrs. Hall coming suddenly and unexpect- 
edly upon them before they had time to escape, they 
were willing to commit a much greater crime if she 
did not leave. The ruffians were not prosecuted or 
molested. The countr}^ was a wilderness and the two 
villains were known to be desperate men, and it was 
thought the safest way to let them alone, hoping 
they would soon leave the country. A few of the 
older inhabitants will remember the Kelleys. The 
location o"'" the log house became Mr. Hall's garden, 
and to this day it is seldom that you can take up a 
handful of dirt therein without finding kernels of 
charred wheat as perfect as on the da}^ it was 
threshed. A new log house was soon finished in 
which Mr. Hall resided until the autumn^otp819,when 
they moved into the frame house erected a few rods 
from the log one, and in which Mr. A. J. Phillips now 
resides. 

At the organization of the town of Ellicott in 
1813, James Hall was elected constable and collector. 
From that time on he served the town'Jn various ca- 
pacities up to 1823, when he was elected Supervisor 
and continued to serve as such until^C^arroll was setoff 



436 THE EAELY HISTOKY OE 

i 

from Ellicott, after which he was elected Supervisor 
of Carroll until he refused to serve longer. In 1833 he 
was elected Member of Assembly. There could be no 
greater evidence of his unbounded popularity than 
this, not only in his ovn town, but in the county. The 
known Whig majority was about 2,000 ; nevertheless, 
James Hall, a notorious Democrat, was elected by 
1700. Politicians had plenty of time then (as they " 
have had since) to think of their crooked ways after 
that election. James Hall for many years was a prom- 
inent and worthy member of the Congregational 
church, and was a liberal giver to all religious and 
benevolent objects. His first wife was Polly, the 
second daughter of Ebenezer Cheney. To them were 
born three children, viz : Abagail, who became the 
wife of Benjamin Morgan, previously spoken of as a 
chairmaker; Lewis, who was born in 1815, married a 
Miss Davis of St. Louis, and is a prominent citizen of 
Jamestown. His wife died but a short time ago, great- 
ly esteemed and beloved in Jamestown. Elial mar- 
ried a daughter of Samuel Barrett; he has for many 
years been a lawyer in New York city. After the 
death of Polly, James Hall in 1829 married Abagail, 
another daughter of Ebenezer Cheney. There were 
no children by this marriage. His third wife was 
Maria, the youngest da'ughter of Ebenezer Cheney, to 
whom he was married in 18I'0. To James and Maria 
(Cheney) Hall were born three children, viz: Erie, 
who married Jennie, the eldest daughter of the Hon. 
R. P. Marvin. He is a prominent member of the firm 
owning the Jamestown Worsted Mills in Jamestown. 
Mary became the wife of Capt. Tuckerman of the 
Burdan Sharp Shooters, who did great service in the 
war of the Rebellion, James, who went a mere boy. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 437 

a common soldier to the defence of his country, 
fell at Malvern Hill ; his body returned to mother 
earth on Viri^inia soil. If ever a noble, generous, self- 
sacrificing, patriotic set of men stepped to the front 
ready and willing to lay down their lives for their 
country, those men went from- Chautauqua county in 
the war of 1861. The post of Sons of Veterans in 
Jamestown is named after young James Hall. May 
the example of his bravery and his patriotism ins^pire 
each of them to like noble deeds, should the country 
call and demand the sacrifice. In peace may they 
emulate the virtues, and in war, the heroism of 
JAMES HALL, THE YOUNG PATRIOT. 



Anna Cheney became the wife of Dr. E. 
T. Foote in 1818. They had a large family 
of children, but the last of the family removed 
from Jamestown many years ago, excepting Mary 
Ann, the only daughter, who married S. C. Crosby. 
Mrs. Crosby and lier daughter Florence continue 
to reside in Jamestown. Anna (Clieney) Foote was 
a prominent and active member of the Methodist 
church. That church will hold her in affectionate re- 
membrance, because of her noble Chriistian character, 
and courageous efforts for their upbuilding and pros- 
perity w^hen the church was poor and its friends few. 
Ruby, the eldest daughter of EbenezerCheney became 
the wife of 

William Seaes, who was born in Wardsboro, Vt., 
in 1787, and emigrated to Chautauqua Co. in the fall 
of 1810, a short time after Solomon Jones. In the fol- 
lowing spring he purchased Lot 11 on which the vil- 
lage of Kiantone is built. He resided on this farm for 
many years, and up to the time of his death. His widow 



438 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

afterwards married Charles Arnold of Dewittville. 
Soon after Mr. Sears had made his location he built a 
tavern which he afterwards sold, and built another 
which is still standing, and was for many years the 
principal hotel of the place. This location, as long 
ago as we can remember, was known as Sears', after- 
wards as Searsburg, then as Carroll, and after the divis- 
ion of the town as Kiantone. William and Rhoda 
(Cheney) Sears had two sons and two daughters that 
we remember, — there may have been others, if so we 
are not informed. The eldest son, Nathan L., lived in 
Jamestown several years, and at one time kept a Drug 
and Book store. He emigrated to the west several 
years ago. At this present writing, January 13th. 
1887, our city papers announce the death of Nathan 
L. Sears, at his home in Gibson city, 111. He was born 
in the town of Ellicott (Kiantone) June 16th, 1812. 
If not the first, he must have been among the first- 
born white children in Southern Chautauqua. His 
first wife was Deborah, daughter of Samuel Hall. 
She died in Jamestown about forty-three years ago. 
A younger son, Clinton, at one time attended ''The 
Academy " in Jamestown, went to Yale College, and 
afterwards, we are informed, became an eminent 
preacher in Cincinnati. Anna, the eldest daughter, 
became the wife of S. B. Winsor and is still living. 
The youngest daughter married D. T. Brown and lives 
in Milwaukee. A Congregational church was organ- 
ized at Sears' in 1815 by Father Spencer; the land on 
which the present Congregational church in Kiantone 
stands was the gift of Ruby Cheney Sears. 

Ebenezer Davis came from Wardsboro, Vt., 
in 1812, and took up land near the Stillwater. His 
wife was Lydia, a sister of James Hall. They had 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 439 

a large family of children, but we have not been 
able to obtain their names. The Davis's were 
noted for their musical talent. One surely and 
we believe two of Ebenezer Davis' sons became 
Baptist ministers. Emri Davis, a brother of Ebenezer 
came in at the same time and became a prominent man, 
in Biisti. His son, now a resident of Sugar Grove, Pa., 
promised us a sketch of his father's life, a promise he 
has failed to keep. We now can only say, that Emri 
Davis, Sen., was for many years one of the prominent 
men of Busti. He died several years ago. He had, 
we believe, several children, how many, we are not in- 
formed. 

SAMUEL HALL 

AVas the eldest son of William Hall, Sen., of 
Wardsboro, Vt. Samuel Hall married Susannah, the 
second daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Chapin) 
Davis, in Wardsboro, and emigrated with a family of 
five children to Ellicott in 1814, The names of these 
children were Samuel D., Elona, Edson, Deborah G., 
and John A., the last not yet six months old. After 
their removal to this county, there was born to them 
Chapin and James Monroe Hall. Samuel Hall took 
up a farm on the Stillwater on what is now the divid- 
ing line between Busti and Kiantone, and upon which 
he continued to reside up to the time of his death in 
1859. Deborali Hall became the wife of Nathan L., a 
son of William Sears. She died in Jamestown in 1836, 
her husband being a Druggist and Bookseller there at 
the time of her death. Two, at least of the sons of 
Samuel Hall liave been very important men in the 
history of the country. John Adams Hall is spoken 
of in other pages of this volume. 

Chapin Hall was born in the wilderness in 1816 — 



440 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

in the wilderness which in after life he was so active 
in subduing and from which he derived his great 
wealth. Chapin married Susan Bostwick, the daugh- 
ter of one of the early settlers. To them was born a 
daughter. She became the wife of Charles Wetmore, 
of Warren, the civil engineer — a son of the late Judge 
Lansing Wetmore, and brother of the present Judge 
Wetmore of Warren. To Charles and Rose (Hall) 
Wetmore were born two sons and a daughter, tlie 
latter dying in childhood. A few years later Charles 
Wetmore was accidentally killed. After many years 
of widowhood the daughter is now the wife of Mr. 
Alba M. Kent. 

Chapin Hall was a man of great activity and 
bodily endurance ; his mind, was a. mathematical 
one, always filled with figures, and finance and 
ideas of great wealth, to the attainment of which 
he bent all his best energies. Early in life, and for 
many years his home was mostly at mills and on 
fleets of lumber on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. 
Warren, Ta., claims him, we are informed, as a resi- 
dent of that place, and Louisville, Ky., ranked him 
among her prominent citizens. The claims of War- 
ren nuist be allowed, for it was from the Congressional 
district of which it is a part that he was elected to Con- 
gress, nevertheless he was l)orn in Ellicott, received his 
education in her log school houses, and a short time be- 
fore his death purchased of his brother the old home- 
stead on which he was born and upon which his son-in- 
law now exhibitsthe choicest herd of cattle in Western 
New York — and he departed this life in Ellicott, at the 
residence of his brother, John A, Hall, Sept. 12, 1879. 
His remains are interred in Lake View cemetery. 

Susannah, the wife of Samuel Hall, who lived and 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 441 

suffered for several years with paralysis, died July 25, 
1858. Samuel Hall died in October, 1859. 

Jasper Marsh was among the earliest of the set- 
tlers in this part of the town, coming in in 1811, He took 
up a farm adjoining Joseph Akin on the Stillwater. He 
was a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the sur- 
render of Burgoyne. He was a mechanic as well as a 
farmer, and he supplied the early settlers many useful 
implements — spinning wheels, large and small, reels, 
swifts, chairs, hay rakes, pitchforks, and many other 
useful and necessary' articles, in an early day came 
from Jasper Marsh's little shop on the Stillwater, We 
have not been able to obtain any record of his family. 
He had several sons, all, I think, remained in the 
countr3^ Capt. A, J, Marsh of Washington is a grand- 
son of Joseph Marsh, 

EZBAI KIDDER 

Was a descendent of the early Pilgrim stock ; 
his forefather, James Kidder, from England landed 
at Salem Harbor in 1650; The forefathers of the 
Kidders, the Jones's, the Halls, the Hazeltines, the 
Davis's, and others whose descendants emigrated first 
to Vermont and afterwards to Chautauqua Co,, set- 
tled early in the last century on or near the Charles 
river, in Mass, Ezbai Kidder was born at Webster, 
Mass.. in 1787; his father the same year emigrated to 
Wardsboro, Vt. Ezbai came to Ellicott in 1813, and 
after thoroughly viewing the country returned. He 
returned in 1816, and at first was employed splitting 
rails and laying up a fence for Dr, Laban Hazeltine. 
He soon made a purchase of land in what is now the 
northeast corner of Kiantone, He married Louisa 
Sliearman, a sister of Deacon Loring Shearman, whom 
he had known in Wardsboro, and who came into the 



442 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

country with her brothers in 1814. They had one son 
and three daughters. The daughters married and 
raised families but now are all dead, except one, Mrs. 
Harlow Mitchell, of Busti. Louisa Shearman Kidder 
died in 1867. Ezbai Kidder died in 1880, at the ad- 
vanced age of 92. 

Samuel Kidder, who inherited the large property 
left by his father, now lives in the old homestead. He 
was born in 1825. Married Eleanor, eldest daughter of 
Joel Partridge in 1854. Both, as were their parents 
before them, are members of the Congrc^gational 
church of Jamestown. They have had a family often 
children, eight of whom are now living. The Kidders- 
have occupied that corner of Kiantone for two-thirds 
of a centuiy, and the prospect is the}^ will continue to 
occupy for a century longer at leas"^. 



POLAND. 

Was set off from the town of Ellicott in 1832, and 
comprises township 2, Range 10, according to the Hol- 
land Company's survey. In 1804 and 5, Thomas 
Kennedy commenced a settlement at what is now 
Kennedy, and there erected thelirstsaw mill in South- 
ern Chautauqua. Although in the heart of a dense, 
unbroken forest, the timbers for this mill were cut, 
hewed and framed in the neighborhood of Franklin, 
Pa., and then floated up the Allegheny river to War- 
ren and from thence up the Conewango to the place 
of their destination. Dr. Kennedy found his method 
of building a mill a very expensive one, and the labor 
herculean. Having reached Warren with the timbers, 
he there placed them on keel boats, for the remainder 
of the journey. The timbers having arrived. Dr. Ken- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 443 

nedy could not find men enou^-li in the whole sur- 
rounding country to erect the frame, aiul spent many 
days between Warren and Franklin in picking up men 
for that purpose. The method for disposing of the 
first lumber cut at this mill was quile as extraordinary 
as of building the mill itself. The boards were railed 
at the mills and run to Pittsburg in the usual manner. 
At Pittsburg they were draM-n and stuck up for a year 
to season. Flat boats, in the meantime, weie built at 
the mill, run to Pittsburg, the boards loaded into them 
and run to New Orleans. This was before the day of 
steamboats; the Paragon, that wonder of tiie world, 
which could be propelled by hot trattv at the 
rate of four miles an hour had not at that time 
been built by Robert Fulton in New York harbor. 
The hands who run the boats, returned l)y sea to Phib 
adelphia, and from there walked home. In those days 
there was no way of coming up the Mississippi river 
except in row boats, through a wilderness countiy filled 
with savages, at that time at war with all white men., 
and constantly on the watch for scalps. The Atlantic 
ocean was by far the safest as well as the most expedi- 
tious route. Dr. Kennedy died in Meadville in 1813. 
In 1831 the Kennedyville pi'opcrty was sold to 
Richard P. Marvin and his elder brother, Erastus Mar- 
vin, of Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y. Erastus Marvin 
moved from Dryden to Kennedyville to take charge of 
the property. Their father, with a second wife and 
family of children, sold his large larm in Dryden and 
moved into this county the next spring, stopping tem- 
porarily at Kennedy until he should lind and purchase 
a suitable farm. During the summer of that year 
•much sickness prevailed at Kennedyville. Erastus 
Marvin had the misfortune to break his collar bone. 



444 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

and before he recovered from this injury was pros- 
trated by fever and died. The father, deeply 
affected by tlie loss of his son and the endemic condi- 
tion there prevailing, after a short illness also died, 
and two or three weeks after the widow died. Richard 
was deeply affected by these losses, and not having in- 
tended to take the management of the property he 
disposed of it and continued the practice of his profes- 
sion in Jamestown, his health being greatly impaired 
for a 3^ear or two. Some years afterwards he removed 
the remains of his relatives from Kennedy to the cem- 
etery in Jamestown, and after the establishment of 
Lake View he had their graves again removed, and 
they now rest in a beautiful lot, on which is erected a 
beautiful monument — Sarcophagus form — with the 
name simply "Marvin" upon it, with appropriate head- 
stones — all of the finest and most durable granite. 
Robert Falconer and Guy G. Irvine succeeded the 
Marvins iu the ownership of the property, and soon 
after Robert Falconer became sole proprietor, and lie 
was succeeded by his youngest son, William T. Fal- 
coner, now dead. 

ROBERT FALCONER. 

Descended from a wealthy and ancient'family in 
Scotland, who could never forget that they were 
"lairds" in the days of Monteith, Wallace, and Mc- 
Dugh, and bravely fought with Bruce at Bannock- 
burn. Yet Robert was thoroughly a republican in 
opinion and practice. He graduated at old Aberdeen 
in 180S, and soon after emigrated to America, not only 
to increase his wealth but to enjoy its free republican 
institutions, to which he was a convert. For several 
years he was engaged in the purchase and sale of cot- 
ton in New York and Charleston, S. G He sent large 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 445 

invoices of cotton to Glasgow and to other parts of 
Scotland. In 1816 a brother in Scotland, who never 
was in America, desired to join him in the purchase of 
lands, w^ith the intention of making a Scotch settle- 
ment, for which the brother at home was to select and 
send over an extra class of emigrants. In accordance 
with this arrangement Mr. Falconer came to James- 
town in 1817, and spent the summer in examining the 
country hereabouts, making his home with Dr. Haz- 
eltine. He was an excellent surveyor, and many of 
our early roads were surveyed by him. During this 
first visit he would make long trips into the wild- 
erness, alwa3's on foot, and frequently was absent for a 
week, greatly to the alarm and annoyance of his 
friends. His onl}^ companions on these excursions 
were his compass, Jacob staff, and a heavy hatchet. 
His favorite resort was the wilderness along the Still- 
water and the Brokenstraw beyond Sugar Grove, Pa. 
Finally he selected lands near Sugar Grove for his 
future home. That section was then almost an un- 
broken wilderness, and he had passed through it in al- 
most every possible direction, running lines and ascer- 
taining the area of certain tracts. Formerly it used to 
be said that a thousand trees in the forest bore the 
blaze of Falconer's hatched. Dr. Hazeltine was accus- 
tomed to tell the following story about his friend, 
sometimes to his great annoyance: 

He returned one pleasant day enveloped in an old 
camlet cloak, which had been patched with cloth of 
other kinds and colors. Under this could be detected 
the tattered remains of coat and pantaloons. He was 
cross and taciturn — did not wish to be questioned, and 
passed quickly to his room. He afterward gave the 
following account of an encounter with a bear : " In 



446 TlIK KAKLY HISTOKY OF 

the woods a couple of miles from Sui^ar Grove, I came 
across a nice, active cub; he did not run away,neither 
did he seem to be afraid. I stood admiring him when 
an old bear came slashino; through the underbrush. 
When she came near, although I had not meddled 
with the young bear, I saw she was determined to 
wrestle with me. She would sit up and show her 
teeth, then come nearer, and sit up and again show 
her teeth. I made up my mind that she was near 
enough to be agreeable, and that when she sat up 
again I would prod her with the Jacob staff. Well, 
she came and stood up, and I made a lunge at her. 
The old she diril lied that Jacob staff out of my 
hand in the winking of an eye; in doing so she pulled 
me forward on to my face. In a moment I was aware 
that the c/Zy// of a brute was unfastening my clothes 
where there were no buttons. I wished 'old clute' had 
her and her pretty little <Hi)'d of a cub likewise. I as- 
sure you that I was grieved that the great she brute 
should handle my clothes in that manner, and pres- 
ently I felt a miserable smarting where I could not see 
the mischief she had wrought, and I was mad. I got 
hold of my hatchet and came to my knees promptlv, 
and dealt her a blow with all the strength at my com- 
mand. It was an unlucky blow for the heastie, for I 
am quite sure its sharp edge came down through her 
left eye, and the way the old div'd whorled around and 
grunted would have amused the best Heelander that 
ever trod the Grampians.* I got up and seized my 
compass and the staff which was near at hand and ran 
with all my might. I did not look back to see if Mis- 
tress Bruin was coming until I was a good half mile 

*A one-eyed bear was killed on the Brokenstraw about two years 
after. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 447 

from the place of encounter, and then I concluded 
that it was best to estimate damages. I soon found, to 
say the least, that I was not presentable, and that I 
had suffered no severe personal injury, although I did 
find a large patch of bare skin where I wished it was 
not, and three deep scratches on my person. A large 
and quite important portion of my trousers was en- 
tirely absent, and I went immediately to the nearest 
habitation that I knew of The only garment I could 
procure that would cover the seat of greatest damage 
was that old cloak, which I put on, heartily thanking 
the lender of the same for his kindness. I laughed 
much on my way home when I thought of the ridi- 
culous figure that old bear had transmographied me 
into, and all the way back I busied my mind in tr^ang 
to remember what I liad read of the mendicant orders 
in the ages long agone. I concluded I was a worthy 
brother in habit if not at heart. The garment was 
patched with a sufficient number of colors, but too 
long I concluded to make of me a Joseph; it had the 
orthodox length, but too many colors to make me pass 
well for a Scotch friar. Doctor,! prefer you say nothing 
to my friends here about my tilt with the bear, and es- 
pecially about the spoiling of my clothing, for I am a 
thorough Scotchman. I enjoy a good, hearty laugh 
if not at my own expense; it is not agreeable to be 
laughed at, you know." 

Mr. Falconer returned to New York in the winter 
of 1818 and came back with his family in 1819 and 
settled in Sugar Grove, Pa. He was at that time con- 
sidered the most wealthy man in this section of the 
country. He loaned considerable money and was 
very active in laying out roads and in aiding in the 
settlement of the countrv. In 1829 he removed to 



448 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Warren, Pa., and soon after became interested in the 
Lumberman's Bank, of which he was made the Pres- 
ident. Through the rascality of those who were sup- 
posed to be its friends and supporters the bank was 
broken. Mr. Falconer in attempts to save it, lost 
largely in wealth, and his health was permanently im- 
paired. He returned to Sugar Grove in 1840 a mental 
ruin, where he died in 1853. 

Col. Nathaniel Fenton was born in New England 
in 1763. He joined the Revolutionary army when 
but a boy, and was an important, bold, brave and 
trusty scout before he was 18. Among Arnold's early 
efforts in painting was the representation of Fenton 
on horseback shooting a British officer who was pur- 
suing him, both at full speed. Col. Fenton after the 
war settled in Otsego count^^ His wife was Rachel 
Fletcher, who bore him five children. Oyilla, the 
eldest daughter, married William Smith. They were 
early settlers in the town of Ellery. Fannie became 
the wife of Horace Allen, and they were among the 
earliest settlers of EUicott. Elsie became the wife of 
Cyrus Coe, and they also became early settlers of that 
part of EUicott now included in the town of Po- 
land. |lichard Fletcliej* Fenton, whose first wife 
was the eldest daughter of William Tew and a sister 
of Wm. H. Tew, were among the early settlers of 
Jamestown. R. F. Fenton was an active business man 
and intimately connected with the early history of the 
country. He married for a second wife a sister of the 
wife of the late Henry Barrett and afterwards of the 
late Smith Seymourr. The second Mrs. Fenton died 
a few years ago; her children reside in the old home- 
stead opposite the Union school, and which was built 
by iMr. Fenton over 60 years ago. 



THE TOWIs' OF ELLICOTT, 449 

Fluvaruia, — or Fluvia — the youngest child of Col- 
Fenton, became the wife of Sumner Allen. They be- 
came residents on lot 58 in that part of EUicottnow in- 
cluded in the town of Poland. Allen was an important 
man in that portion of the town, and for several years 
he was the supervisor when set off as the town of Po- 
land. Fluvia Allen died over forty years ago. Sum- 
ner survived many years and married again, but died 
several years ago. The eldest daughter of Sumner and 
Fluvia Allen became the wife of Flint Blanchard and 
the motlier of our present Dr. Blancliard of James- 
town. A younger daughter (Delia) became the wife 
of Thomas A. Shaw. The two sons of Sumner Allen 
several years ago emigrated to the west. 

Elias Tracy, Sen., was one of the earliest comers 
in this part of the town. He settled on lot 49, and we 
think died there many years ago. He was excessively 
fond of hunting, so much so that he was frequently 
called the old hunter, and we remember, when game 
was beginning to thin out somewhat in this section, he 
made a journey to Arkansaw, then in the Indian Ter- 
ritory, to follow his favorite amusement. He was a 
man of a quick, fiery temper, undoubted integrity, ofa 
kind and affectionate disposition, and eccentric in 
dress and habits, " He did hate a mean, woniHii heat- 
ing^ drunken, lazy, lousy man, wns than rattlesnakes 
likephiii;^ and such men would pisin a rattlesnake 
any day. Such men should always live in Ireland." 
The above sentence, with its hates and misplaced likes 
will be understood by a few ; it is here recorded for 
them only. Many anecdotes were in early days told 
of Tracy^nd his mule, but they are not adapted to the 
present day. Mr. Tracy was a man of sterling worth 
and was highly respected. He had a large family. We 



460 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

have the impression the sons are all dead. Col. Elias 
Tracy, one of his sons, died at Falconer several years 
ago. The wife of Wm. H. Fenton, Esq., was a daugh- 
ter of Elias Tracy, Sen., and is still living. Of the 
8d and 4th generations* there are many now living 
within the boundaries of the old town o"*" Ellicott. 



We have doubtless omitted to mention a number 
of the first settlers of the town of Ellicott who should 
have been mentioned in a work purporting to be a his- 
tory of the town. We have not claimed to write a com- 
plete history — we do not believe there are historic 
memorandums extant from which such a history could 
be compiled. This volume is largely the writer's own 
recollections, strengthened by memorandums made at 
the time by himself or his father. Those happenings 
before his remembrance and before he was born, have 
been compiled from memorandums and history of oc- 
currences and events written by Dr. Hazeltine, and 
found among his papers when they came into our hands 
after his death. 

We might have made this history more perfect 
had we been able to get from home and visit certain 
families with whom our acquaintance is slight, and 
whom we seldom see. A few persons and families have 
been quite out of our memory, and from time to time 
during the past six months we have picked them up and 
placed them in their proper places. Some, possibly, 
we have after all failed to bring to our remembrance — 
but not intentionally. A few persons,. either by failing 
to furnish us with the proper data, or by the plain, 
outspoken request that we would not mention them by 
act or by name in anything w^e might write, we have 
tried to accommodate; in fact, there are but two per- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 451 

sons who have made this request who would have been 
mentioned had we been so inclined, and they are of 
the smallest importance possible so far as the early his- 
tory ot the town is concerned, their fathers coming in 
as late as 18o4. The types have made several errors 
we have attempted to correct — probably many remain 
which we have overlooked. We have been obliged to 
be our own proofreader, and have not had sufficient 
practice to be perfect. 

Mr. Fred P. Hall took it upon himself to correct 
the press on dates. He assures us that he has personally 
compared the dates with the original copy and he be- 
lieves them to be correct. 

At one time it was our intention to add to our His- 
tory a chapter on the early settlers of Busti, of which 
but a small part ever belonged to the town of Ellicott. 
With this in view we had collected considerable mat- 
ter, in addition to the facts previously in our posses- 
sion. When we came to put the facts we had collected 
in order for publication, we found that we must aban- 
don the design. Our early history of the Franks alone, 
and which is as interesting and more romantic than 
romance itself, would require from fifty to a hundred 
pages, and a tolerable history of Busti would require 
nearly the number of pages found in this volume. We 
exceedingly regret our inability to carry out our orig- 
inal intention, for in our own estimation the history of 
Busti is fully equal in interest to Ellicott, but if it is 
ever written it must be in a volume exclusively de- 
voted to it. We would be pleased to be authorized to 
attempt the work. 

As the conclusion of our work draws near, we have 
carefulh^ n^viewed what we have A'ritten, and we con- 
fess to a feeling of satisfaction. Not a line has been 



453 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

written under the impulse of ill feeling. If we had an 
inclination so to do, we have had watchful guardians 
over us who would have instantly suppressed such 
expressions. So far as the facts of this book are taken 
from memorandums written by our father years ago 
and at the time of their occurrence, there is no one 
who ever knew Laban Hazeltine who doubts their 
truthfulness. So far as they depend on our own mem- 
ory we believe we have given a fair version of the occur- 
rences. In this we are supported by other eye wit- 
nesses still living. 

Our object has been to show to those who come 
after us what noble men our fathers were, the labor 
they had to perform, the trials they had to endure. 
There was little the}^ did that was not praiseworthy, 
and that little we have strove to drop out of sight. 
And the few things that we mention in this volume as 
not praiseworthy were not the acts of bad men, but 
were the acts of ttie best and most praiseworthy of 
Ellicott's earl}'^ citizens. The worst that can be said of 
them is — they were mistaken. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Chautauqua County Bank — Robert Newland, the 
Jamestown Banker — The Museum Society and 
Fourth of July, 1860 — William Broadhead — 
Lake View Cemetery. 



THE CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY BANK. 

But one of Jamestown's banks dates back into the 
times reviewed in these pages. The Chautauqua Co. 
Bank received its charter in 1831, and belonged to 
what was then known as the safety fund system, which 
was peculiar to New York, and was considered the 
safest system then in vogue. There was a great vari- 
ation in the value of bank bills up to the establish- 
ment of the National banking system. 

The first break made upon Judge Prendergast's 
yard, described in Chapter IV, was a strip on the 
north side, the width of L. L. Mason's store and the 
store below it, for Alvin Plumb's store and store house. 
The object in selling was to hide from view the barn 
yard of the Ballard tavern. To accomplisli this Plumb 
contracted to build a long store house reaching from 
his store to what is now Mechanics alley. The Second 
break was a strip on the south side of his lot next to 



454 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Second street, to accommodate the new bank. It was 
represented to him that the best and most appropriate 
place for it was on the corner of Main and Second 
streets. At the urgent request of Barrett, Baker and 
Plumb, who supposed those who had the bank in charge 
would place the building on the corner, he finally sold 
for a nominal sum the strip of land on the south side of 
his house to the bank. The north line of what is now 
known asSharpe's store was the north line of the lot 
sold, and was within two feet of the windows on the 
south side of James Prendergast's house, and which sup- 
plied it with the larger portion of its light, l^o reward 
him for this generosity, those who had the manage- 
ment of the bank in charge at that time, erected a 
one-story building close to and shutting out the light 
from these windows. At that time Judge Prendergast 
made the first threat, that he would sell his property 
and leave Jamestown ; a town he had done so much 
for, and which had done so little for him. "He could 
not see why it was, a few persons hated him so pro- 
foundly ; he had given them no cause, on the con- 
trary had assisted them when their undertakings were 
laudable ; it must be they wished him dead, surely 
they were willing to shut the light of heaven from his 
humble house, and he considered that a broad hint 
for him to die or leave." " T sold them those lots for 
less than half their value, expecting they would erect 
a good building on the corner ; instead, they have put 
up a concern that is a disgrace to the town, and so 
placed it as to shut out at least three-quarters of the 
light from my house. At my favorite window, where 
I do my writing and read my newspaper I cannot see 
to either read or write on the brightest day." " I will 
sell my property here at a sacrifice, and leave. I have 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 455 

lived here long enougli, the last sixteen years have 
been years of turmoil and trouble for me." 
The Judge never forgot the injur}^, and probably 
from that time on was firmly resolved to sell his prop- 
erty and leave Jamestown. 

The first cashier of the bank was Arad Joy, a gen- 
tleman of intelligence and high standing. He had a 
large family and when he came it was his intention 
and expectation to make it his future home. During 
his residence here he occupied the house on Third 
street which for several years past was the residence 
of Joel Hoyt, and was lately moved back to make room 
for Peter Hoyt's fine row of residences. He also bought 
of Judge Prendergast nine acres of land now known 
as Fairmount, on which he expected to erect his 
home. He became so disgusted with the management 
and condition of things that in about six montiis he 
resigned, and within a year of his coming left, shak- 
ing off the dust of the town from his shoes forever. 

In the spring of 1882 Aaron D. Patchin of Albany 
was induced to take the situation of cashier. He was 
a man of energy and great force of character, and he 
brought with him prompt business methods and 
habits, and soon put the institution on that sound 
financial basis and business condition which has ever 
since attended it. After a residence of four years in 
Jamestown, having received the appointment of 
casliier of the State Bank at Albany, he removed to 
that city and afterwards established the Patchin Bank 
in Buffalo. His brother, Thaddeus W. Patciiin of Troy 
succeeded him as cashier of the Chautauqua Co. Bank. 
Perhaps it is well to state that the year after Aaron D, 
Patchin came to Jamestown (1833) it was decided to 
enlarge their banking house and make a much needed 



456 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

residence for the cashier. A substantial brick edifice 
was erected on the corner of Main and Second streets, 
built so as to include the old office, which was in use 
during the whole time in which they were erecting 
the new building. This substantial structure, one of 
the landmarks, was totally destroyed in the great con- 
flagration of January, 1861. 



ROBERT NEWLAND. 



Robert Newland, of noble Scotch parentage — for 
in addition to noble blood he has the hair and com- 
plexion of the ancient Caledonian — came from his 
paternal home in Albany in 18S4, to occupy the post 
of teller in this bank, and he has been connected with 
it ever since. For many years he was its cashier, and 
for many years he has been and is now its President. 
The Newlands appear to take easy and naturally to 
banking, for one of this Scotch clan, Abraham New- 
land, has for many years been the head of a rich and 
noted banking house in London. 

In 1846 Robert Newland married Evelyn, the 
youngest daughter of Dr. Fatchin of Troy, and sister 
©f A. D. and T, W. Fatchin, the previous cashiers of 
the bank. They had two children; tiie eldest, a 
son,died in infancy; the daughter is the wife of 
Daniel H. Fost. Robert Newland is in every sense a 
citizen of Jamestown. He is intimately connected with 
all of its interests, and has always been active in all 
undertakings to promote its welfare. He has forbid 
our speaking of him in the laudatory manner we had 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 457 

intended, (and we cannot speak otherwise and tell the 
truth) which the citizens of Jamestown will expect, 
but we yield to his wishes and pass him by with very 
few words. He came here a 3^oung man, he now quiet- 
ly takes his seat with the aged. For nearly 53 years 
he has been connected with the Chautauqua County 
Bank. For that length of time he has quietly and 
thoroughly, and with the greatest satisfaction to every 
•one interested, done the business alloted to him to do. 
He has seldom been away from Jamestown, and then 
for a short tiine. He is most thoroughly acquainted 
with the town and the surrounding country, with all 
of its wants and its needs. There is not a man in the 
country, however lowly his occupation, with whom he 
is not in sympathy, provided he attends to his busi- 
ness and is industrious. Temperate and industrious 
himself, he believes it the duty of every man to be 
temperate and industrious. He has always been plain 
in his attire, unostentatious in his intercourse with bus- 
iness men, retiring in manner to seeming timidity, he 
is nevertheless firm in his convictions and unswerv- 
ing from his sense of duty and of right. Envy, hatred, 
malice and all uncharitableness never found a resting 
place in his heart. There never has been any room 
there for any but the noblest feelings, and the most 
ennobling traits of human nature. 

Robert Newland is not only noted in Jamestown 
for his unswerving integrity, his laborious habits and 
close attention to business — and as being on all occa- 
sions and circumstances, the business man's true 
helper and friend — but above all, has always been one 
of that noble few, noted for reaching out the helping 
hand to the poor, the needy and the unfortunate. We 
say this with diffidence, for he is most signall}'^, one of 



458 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

those men who beheves in, and practices the doctrine,. 
"Let not your left hand know what your right hand 
doeth," and he has warned us not to speak of his pri- 
vate affairs or in words of eulogy ; holding as he does,, 
firmly the opinion tliat "No man should be praised 
for his integrity, for diligence in business, for doing 
right, and helping those who need help ; if a man 
does not these things he is a disgrace to society, and 
if he does them he merely does what is the duty of 
ever}^ man to do, and should not be praised therefor." 
Knowing that ^his is his opinion, nevertheless, we are 
determined to say, for it is true, no man has liv(^d in 
Jamestown for 53 years whose charities equal those of 
Robert Newland, or who is so deeply beloved by every 
class of its citizens. There is no laudation in our say- 
ing there is no man who excels him in the warmth of 
his affections, in conscientiousness, in generosity, in 
his devotion to truth, and to the highest interests of 
the town of which for more than half a century he 
has been a citizen. No man has evinced higher or 
more correct powers of judgment, greater financial 
ability, or more good traits of head and heart, which 
every man loves and praises, even if he lacks the abil- 
ity, or that something more than integrity, to follow.. 
The memor}'^ of such men never perish from the 
face of the earth ; their names may not be enrolled 
on the scroll of the world's great and most noted 
ones, although they are the nation's true, but more 
humble advancers in enlightenment and C'hristianity.. 
They are the moulders and makers of the higher com- 
munities, which in their aggregate make the nations. 
Their names will have a far more glorious and ever- 
lasting enrollment on the tablets of another world. 
The lives and deeds of such men ameliorate the con- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 459 

dition of man centuries after they have passed away, 
and their names are forgotten on earth forever, but 
they are remembered in tliat world in which good 
deeds and noble lives are rewarded. 



The Museum Society and the Fourth of July, 

18G0 — A Sketch for tpie Children 

OF THE Present. 

From the year 1855 to ISCO there existed in 
Jamestown a society called the Museum Society, com- 
posed of ]\histers and Misses between the ages of ten 
and fifteen, some twenty in number, and mostly child- 
ren from the primary department of Jamestown Acad- 
emy, We will not write how this society originated, 
merely remarking that it was a very successful under- 
taking, and useful to the children engaged in it. 

Many of those bright, happy children as they 
passed along the path of life, dropped by the wayside, 
and marble slabs and columns in our cemeteries have 
been reared to their memory — others have found homes 
far distant from the town that gave them birth, and 
the scenes of their youthful pleasures — a few only re- 
main as citizens of Jamestown, and at the present 
moment we can bring to mind only three — Daniel H. 
Post, Edward F. Dickinson, and Mary Fletcher. 

Those who aided the children in the formation of 
their society liave all passed away from earth but one 
— perhaps we should say two, for Eliza Kent, then a 
teacher in Jamestown Academy, was interested in the 
children's welfare, and occasionally met with them and 
aided in their exercises. 

When it was fully understood that we would com- 



460 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

pile this volume, there came to us from all parts of 
the country, " Remember the Museum Society in your 
history;" and now as we are drawing it to a close, 
from all directions come letters, as if by conspiracy, 
saying, "You must not forget the Museum Society." 
Among them is a lengthy communication from 
Dwight Dickinson, Surgeon in the United States 
Navy, which we have determined to give in this con- 
nection. We send it to the press as we received it. If 
it affects the remaining members of the Museum So- 
ciety as it has us, it will prove far superior to anything 
we could write upon the subject, and our space will 
not admit of more. Surgeon Dickinson is attached to 
the U. S. ship Portsmouth, and is now on duty, we 
believe, in the West Indies. 

One of the most pleasant — one of the saddest — 
one of the sweetest — one of the most bitter excursions 
a human being advanced in life can make, is to go 
back with his memory and review these scenes of the 
past, which now seem all of life that has been worth 
the living. We cannot believe that these are our re- 
flections only; are they not common to the human 
race ? As we approach the bourne from which there 
is no return,^when life as it were has been lived, and 
as we wait for the great last change which closes this 
drama of being, are not these sweet sad memories given 
us to loose our hold on this world of sunshine and 
flowers, in which we have quaffed the sweetest 
draughts, but find in the dregs,' bitterness. Are not 
these, preparations for the near at hand rest, and per- 
chance life, — in the which all of thesesweet joys which 
memory pictures, shall be repeated, and enjoyed, not 
for a time, but forever. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 461 

SURGEON DWIGHT DICKINSON'S LETTER. 

U. S. S. Portsmouth. 

My Dear Doctor : — I am sure that the articles 
on the early history of Ellicott, written by yourself, 
which have appeared from time to time in the James- 
town Journal, have been read with great interest, not 
only by the present residents of the town, but by all 
those wdiom fortune has driven from their native 
place. 

It is pleasant to think that the sites of old build- 
ings and the deeds of our fathers, the pioneers, are be- 
ing suitably recorded, and I hope these records will 
appear again in a less perishable form than in the col- 
umns of the daily newspaper. 

Permit me to request that a chapter be devoted to 
some of those old settlers who took great interest in the 
youth of the town, in their education and in their 
sports. Among such j^ou must take a foremost place. 
I remember well the dialogues you used to write for us 
children to speak in the Jamestown Academy; the 
class in botany that you organized; the lectures on 
physiology, and the instruction in chemistry; and that 
during the latter, your eldest son received evidence of 
an experiment which he bears to this day.* 

In promoting our sports you were active and ener- 
getic. Your residence and grounds occupied the whole 
square between Third and Fourth, Washington and 
Lafayette streets. The large, two-story building had 
an extension of sheds and barns stretching at right 
angles to Washington street. In one of the rooms in 

* The accident referred to is tiiis: In illustrating the pressure 
of the atmosphere we took a wine glass, lit a piece of paper dipped 
in alcohol, and clapped it on my son Charles' left cheek. The boy 
dodged and brought the l)urning paper on the cheek. The result 
was a scar which is slightly visible to the present day. 



462 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

this extension, a society of children, none over fifteen 
years of age, met weekly, after the early closing of 
school on Friday afternoons. The idea of the society 
was derived, I think, from the series of Rollo books 
published by Abbot, and the particular one called Rol- 
lo's Museum. 

You freely gave us the use of the room, and the 
large lawn adjoining for a play ground. Your kind 
and gentle wife, Mrs. Eliza Hazeltine, always had cakes 
and cookies ready for the appetite that attends 
children's play, for games were indulged in, after the 
regular exercises of the society. 

Our society had regular. officers, president, vice- 
president, secretary, constitution and by-laws, which 
you helped us to frame. At every meeting an original 
composition wan read by some member previously des- 
ignated by the president. No one could escape, though 
some of the girls begged for a reprieve. Weekly, also, 
each member was required to bring some mineral, 
wood, shell, some article of curiosity, in short, which 
was carefully preserved and exhibited in our room. 
Somewhere there must be several boxes of those child- 
ish relics now. 

The height of our importance was reached, how- 
ever, July 4, 1860, when, as many of the older resi- 
dents had gone to Randolph to assist in the ceremo- 
nies attendant on the completion of the Atlantic & 
Great Western Railway to that town, we were permit- 
ted to take entire charge of Jamestown's celebration of 
the National holiday. 

Never were boys and girls prouder or more exalt- 
ed, and we scarcely realized that our keen enjoyment 
was almost entirely the result of your wife's and your 



THE TOWN 0¥ ELLICOTT. 463 

own untiring labors. Nearing middle age as we are 
now, that fact stands out prominently to us. 

We assembled in the old Academy grounds, corner 
of Fourth and Spring — many in costume, the girls 
wearing crowns to designate the states, Kittie Hazel- 
tine being Goddess of Liberty, while Will Fuller was ar- 
raj'ed as Brother Jonathan; " Old 76 " represented by 
Charlie Hazeltine. Promptly at 1 p. m. we marched 
under guidance of Robert Hazeltine, as Marshal, and 
George Harrington, Assistant Marshal. We were pre- 
ceded by the Lowry Light Guards, a military organ- 
ization of the town, many of whom were soon to make 
undying names for themselves, under command of 
the heroic Captain, James M. Brown, 

From the Academy we proceeded to your grounds 
and there, under the shade of the lofty trees, we ar- 
ranged ourselves on a platform erected by the boys, 
and decorated with flags. The parents and friends, 
with a large audience, gathered around, while an order 
of exercise was faithfully carried out. The president, 
Ed. C. Burns, introduced the Reverend T. H. Rouse^ 
who made a prayer. Then the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence was read, after which an oration was deliv- 
ered by Charles Hazeltine, and Will l^ier made a patri- 
otic speech. My part consisted in reciting a poem, 
something about Uncle Sam, who had never a wife, 
but daughters thirty-three. The number is now in- 
creased to thirty-eight, I believe. 

A long arbor capable of seating nearly a hundred 
and fifty had been constructed by your direction, and 
after the regular order of speeches, etc. was over, we 
boys each selected a young lady and marched to the 
table. I was honored by the hand of Miss Kittie Ha- 
zeltine. The bountiful repast had been purchased by 



464 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

yourself and mainly cooked under your wife's superin- 
tendence, and we children were waited on by the older 
young ladies of the town, tastefully dressed in national 
colors. I can recall Miss Eliza Kent, Miss Mary Mar- 
vin, and Miss Florence Allen among the number. 

No dinner could be complete without toasts, and 
the regular ones were from your pen. Let me give 
them, as. printed in the Democrat of that time : 

To the memory of the boy who could not tell a 
lie — George Washington. 

To the memory of the laziest boy, and the greatest 
orator of the Revolution — Patrick Henry. 

Young America — That's ourselves. The present 
and future governors of the United States, Canada, 
Mexico, Cuba, Africa and Japan. 

Our Parents — Fossils — rendered obscure by the 
luxuriant growth of Young American moss which sur- 
rounds them. 

The 4th of July — May it continue to be celebrated 
by American Boys and Girls, as long as a Chinaman 
remains in the world to make fire-crackers, and until 
that time shall come when turpentine will not blaze, 
nor gunpowder make a noise. 

Brother Jonathan — Known all over the world and 
everywhere else as the Governor of America from 1776 
to 1860. If any inquire as to his genius, his muscle 
or courage, we have the pleasure of referring them to 
Mr. John Bull for further information. 

The following were volunteer toasts : 

By Master Willie Pier — The Lowry Light Guards 
— They shall be Captains and Colonels when we are 
in the Cabinet. 

How quickly thereafter the first portion of this 
toast proved true ! 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 465 

By Master Pickney Marvin — Dr. and Mrs. Hazel- 
tine — The friends of Young America. May the day 
soon come when we shall be able to return their many 
acts of kindness, and their self-sacrificing devotedness 
to our happiness. 

By Master Fred Hawley — The Museum Society — 

Composed of priceless gems and peails, 

Of manly boys and lovely girls. 

With modest pride we claim to be 

Fair types of Young America. 

By Master Charlie Hazeltine — Our Country. May 
it ever extend from ocean to ocean, and reach from 
the ice bound north to the orange groves of the south. 

By Master Robert Hazeltine — Our Commissary 
Committee — Our elder sisters. We love them, and we 
think our elder brothers do too. 

By Master Eddy Dickinson — The Banner of the 
Republic, — 

May our path of duty be straight as its bars. 
And shine forth in beauty as bright as its stars. 

Our appetites, not small by any means, having 
been fully satisfied, the Dowry Dight Guards and 
friends who had waited upon us sat down. These 
again were succeeded by poor boys and girls who had 
not been expected. Such was your kindness and hos- 
pitality. 

The afternoon was spent in games, and in the 
evening a tine display of fireworks (your own munifi- 
cent gift) under the management of Mr. Westcott, was 
given. 

Such, in brief, are the recollections of a happy day 
of childhood. Many of the participants have passed 
away, but all those living still feel indebted to you, 
my dear Doctor, for this and many other pleasures. 



466 THE EARLY HISTOKY OF 

Hoping that your life may be long spared, I re- 
main, your sincere friend, 

DwiGHT Dickinson, 

Surgeon U. S. N. 

That pleasant occasion was 26 years ago — and 
Time within that short period has completely changed 
everything here. The town, its inhabitants, the pur- 
suits, everything is completely and most thor- 
oughly changed. True, a few of those inhab- 
itants of 26 years ago still walk our streets, 
but even they must be included in this great 
change — they are not th« same men and women in 
appearance, in pursuits, in desires, in thoughts 
or in feelings — and those children of the Mu- 
seum Society, more of them are with the 
dead than with the living. We cannot give 
a list of those children, those living or of those 
dead, but we at this moment have painfully in mind 
one of the queens of that day, and the May Day queen 
in the pageant held on our grounds the previous May 
Day. So beautiful, so full of robust life and health, 
the chief blooming, fascinating little minx of them 
all — the pride of the Museum Society, beloved by all 
who knew her, none ever nearer the soul of parents, 
of brothers, sisters and friends. The beautiful earthly 
casket which contained that bright soul, lies not far 
distant from another beautiful earthly casket in which 
once lived our own beloved little Kitty; the lovely be- 
ing we have sketched above was Belle Marvin. 

And where are those who labored so hard on that 
Independence day and for a week previous — we 
should have written for years previous, that these 
children might be good and liappy? Gone, all gone. 
Thus it is, our most pleasing retrospections are min- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 467 

gled with feelings of deepest sorrow. Grief and bitter- 
ness cloud and mar our most happy retrospect. 



WILLIAM BROADHEAD. 



When speaking of our early blacksmiths and 
other tradesmen of early days we were at a loss whether 
to rank this great man of business with the past or 
the present. He is to-day with his sons, Sheldon and 
Almet Broadhead, owner of the most extensive manu- 
facturing establishment of our city, if not of Western 
New York; nevertheless, he was one of Jamestown's 
Burly day workers and must not be omitted, because he 
and his sons, (born in Jamestown) are owners and op- 
erators of an establishment built but a few years ago. 
We heard the ring of the anvil, struck by William 
Broadhead's hammer as it resounded through our 
humble streets, forty-five years ago. He pounded 
iron in Gen. Harvey's old shop, and at the same time 
the anvil music played ]:>y Lyman Crane might be 
heard coming from another old shop three squares 
away. We shall not pass by such men by any man- 
ner of means. 

William Broadhead was born at Thornton Heights 
in England in 1819, and Victoria, Queen of England, 
was born at Kensington Gardens the same year. To 
this coincidence we are inclined to attribute a por- 
tion of Mr. Broadhead's royal good fortune. His father 
wasoneof those sturdy specimens of the Yorkshire coun- 
try who could not have been of the Barebones school 



468 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

of Nonconformists, for after the day's work over the an- 
vil was completed, he was accustomed to call his 
children around him and lecture them upon the value 
of good conduct, and impressed on their minds that no 
one could succeed in any undertaking without indus- 
try and strict integrity. William Broadhead in his 
youthful days labored at the loom, and learned the 
art of weaving; afterwards he worked with his father 
at the anvil. Having attained his majority, he con- 
cluded to leave " Old England's shores," and in the 
" new world " seek the fortune he so much desired. 

In 1842 we find him pounding iron in the shop of 
Safford Eddy (the Harvey shop) in Jamestown. He 
found plenty to do, for he was a master of his trade, 
and one of those broad shouldered, thick muscled 
specimens, indigenous to the English highlands, to 
whom the heavy work of the smith would prove more 
a pastime than a labor. He was diligent in his busi- 
ness, and appeared to accumulate this world's wealth, 
while his neighbors engaged in the same business, and 
equally laborious, found it difficult to realize more 
than was sufficient for a livelihood, and some not that. 
His associates seemed to think that William Broad- 
head must be a penurious sort of man, who gave noth- 
ing in charity and lived on what would starve a Yan- 
kee. They soon learned, however, that he was far the 
most charitable of their ilk in town, and that he dined 
at a table supplied with the best our markets offered. 
It was certain, that in a remarkably short time he had 
accumulated a fair little sum, while they remained 
quite as*poor as when Broadhead first came to town. 
One looking into the matter more closely, found that 
what he and his companions spent for whiskey (and 
they were temperate men) and other expenditures for 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 4G9 

themselves and families, and which ministered neither 
to their standing in society, or to their good, if saved, 
would put into their pockets a considerable amount of 
money; but this did not explain the whole difference, 
and judging from transactions, with which he had 
become acquainted, he was forced to the conclusion 
that there was a financial ability in their English 
competitor which he and his associates 'did not pos- 
sess. Whenever he purchased a piece of property as 
an investment, if he did not absolutely lose, he seldom 
made anything, whilst Broadhead always appeared to 
be lucky — always gained something, and not unfre- 
quently doubled his money. 

With means thus accumulated by diligent work, 
and by good judgment in buying and selling property 
he after a few years bouglit an interest in what was 
then termed a Scythe Snath factory (see Chapter VI). 
This industry was founded on the inventions of Sam- 
uel Garfield, and the first factory was operated by 
him, and was at that time the most profitable business 
in Jamestown. Under Mr. Broadhead's management 
the business was more than doubled in the amount of 
goods manufactured, the expenses lessened and the 
profits increased. Twice his factory was a total loss to 
him and his company by fire, and after several years 
of hard but profitable labor he went out of the busi- 
ness little richer than when he entered it. But he had 
established a standing with financial and monied 
men which was the key of his future success. He had 
gained for himself a name for strict integrity, great 
financial ability, and undivided attention to business. 
This of itself was a fortune, and he had the ability to 
avail himself of it, when the time arrived and the 
proper opportunity presented. For years afterwards 



470 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

he confined himself to diligent labor and to operations 
within his means. 

Finalh^ his two sons having arrived at the age 
of manhood, and showing a turn and ability for mer- 
chandising, he established a clothing store and took 
the sons as partners. This establishment under the 
management of the sons, grew into the largest estab- 
lishment of the kind in Jamestown or in this section 
of the country. 

In 1872 Mr. Broadhead, accompanied by his wife 
and daughter, made a visit to his old home and many 
remaining friends in England ; and to that visit our 
present large, intelligent, and rapidly increasing Eng- 
lish population is to be attributed. Being a weaver in 
his boyhood days, it was but natural that he should 
visit the old and many new factories in the neighbor- 
hood of his old home, in which cloths of all kinds were 
manufactured. During his visit to these factories, the 
idea came into his mind that an establishment for the 
manufacture of alpaca and other dress goods would be 
a good thing for him to introduce into Jamestown. 
After a thorough examination he concluded that an 
Alpaca mill would be a profitable thing for Jamestown 
as well as for Wm. Broadhead, and what would be 
profitable to both must be accomplished. He returned 
home with his mind filled with this grand enterprise. 
His first move was to purchase the land on which the 
Hall Alpaca mill now stands. Under his leadership 
buildings were speedily erected, and the manufactur- 
ing company of Hall, Broadhead & Turner formed. 
Machinery was purchased in Bradford, England, and 
Mr. Turner, one of the company, Applej'ard and oth- 
ers, thoroughly schooled in all branches of the busi- 
ness, with a host of operatives emigrated, and took up 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 471 

residence in Jamestown, and soon the new enter- 
prise was in successful operation. After a couple of 
3'ears Mr, Broadhead withdrew from this company, and 
not long after, at the urgent request and counsel of 
Mr. Appleyard, a man of education and thoroughly 
conversant with all branches of the business, he pur- 
chased the site on which once stood Hazeltine & Fal- 
coner's Woolen Factory, and thereon erected a building 
to accommodate fifty looms and the other necessary 
machinery for the manufacture of worsted goods. The 
company building and operating this second factory 
IS now, and has been from the commencement — Wil- 
liam Broadhead and his two sons, Sheldon and Almet 
Broadhead. They have enlarged and continued to en- 
large their borders, until the Worsted mills of Wm. 
Broadhead & Sons cover an acreage we dare not esti- 
mate, the last enormous building being six stories (or 
more) in height. The first great addition was in 1878, 
accommodating 272 looms and other necessary ma- 
chines. New buildings were added in 1880-82, and 
the last enormous buildings were erected the past sea- 
son. Now 550 looms and all other machinery required 
are in full operation and more soon to be added. The 
two sons, who have been thoroughly bred to the busi- 
ness, are responsible for the right conduct of this es- 
tablishment. William has too much building to at- 
tend to to be occupied with such business. He is now 
finishing up a large brick building, containing three 
large stores — what else we are not informed — which 
spani^ the outlet. Where and what he is to build the 
coming season has not transpired. Such is a history 
in brief of Jamestown's 

VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 



473 THE EARLY HISTOKY OF 

THE EARLY BURIALS AT THE RAPIDS— THE 
FIRST BURYING GROUNDS— CEMETERIES. 



We stated in a former chapter that there were no 
deaths in Jamestown until the fall of 1815. The first 
person to die here A^as a relative of Judge Prendergast 
named Elisha Wing; he died at the Judge's house in 
November, 1815. Capt. Forbes and two or three oth- 
ers were requested to select a suitable place for the 
burial. The hills to the west of the village, and be- 
tween the swamp and the present steamboat landing, 
had been denuded of a large portion of the pine, and 
a few acres, in various portions cleared and used as 
potato patches, etc. At that time a spot somewhere in 
this locality must be selected, for all others were in 
the forest. No permanent location for burial purposes 
could be made. On the top of the highest hill was a 
clearing of about two acres, and this was the place se- 
lected for Wing's interment. The location was where 
now is the crossing of Clinton and Fourth streets, and 
here Wing was buried. The second death was nearly 
two years afterwards, when a Mrs. Simmons hung her- 
self with a skein of yarn, and was also buried here. 
The third person to die at the rapids was Austin Nel- 
son, the Schoolmaster, a relative of the Cheneys, who 
died of fever at our father's house,and as no selection for 
burying ground had been made, was buried here, late 
in December, 1820, The fourth adult burial was a 
young man by the name of Jones who died a few days 
after Nelson of the same fever, and soon after a young 
man name Willard Blanchar died of the fever, and 
was the fifth and last adult buried at this locality; and 
these were all the adult deaths in Jamestown between 
its first settlement in 1811 and 1823, a period of twelve 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 473 

years. During that time eight infant children were 
also buried there. 

In 1823 new ground was selected, above Fifth street 
and between Cherry and Washington streets. The 
writer well remembers the first burial in that ground, 
or what was so intended. It was a child of Aaron 
Taylor, who lived in the log house at the Still. The 
ground selected was in a thicket of second-growth 
pines, extending from Main street to the boatlanding, 
and south to the swamp, that is to Fourth street. 
Many of the hard wood trees were also standing and a 
few pines. This interment was made precisely where 
Hoyt's house stands on the southwest corner of Fifth 
and Cherry street. It was soon after ascertained that 
the burial was not on the ground intended, but the 
grave there remained until C. N. Butler built the house 
in which Mr. Hoyt now resides. 

The year previous to Judge Prendergast deeding 
this lot for burial purposes to the Congregational 
church, Sam'l A. Brown had strongly opposed its being 
located on the other side of the outlet; for this reason, 
this field was for a time called Sammy Brown's grave 
yard. In 1844 this burial place was becoming crowded, 
and the village bought the next square north, includ- 
ing the street, of Henry Baker, and added it as an ad- 
dition to the square which had been given by Judge 
Prendergast. In 1858 the grounds were again becom- 
ing crowded, when the writer prepared and published 
in the village papers a series of articles, with the inten- 
tion of showing that the burying ground was contam- 
inating our springs — that the grounds then in use 
would be insufficient after two or three years — tliat in 
truth no desirable locations at that time for burials 
remained, and urged the immediate selection and pur- 



474 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

chase of grounds for a cemeter^^ In July of that 
year a meeting of the citizens was held at Shaw's Ho- 
tel at which the trustees of the village voted the sum 
of $1,500 for a cemetery. It was then urged that this 
would not purchase a sufhcient amount of ground. 
The writer, who was Chairman of that meeting, had 
■previously had several conversations with Milton Ford 
and Zalmon Hollister who owned the north portions 
of the present cemetery, -and had obtained their terms. 
In order to purchase both pieces — the Ford and the 
Hollister — a Cemetery Association was formed accord- 
ing to statute. By joint vote of the Trustees of the 
Village and the Association, AVarner D. Shaw and S. 
S. Cady were made a committe to meet the owners of 
of the land and purchase the same as advantageously 
as possible. A few days afterwards the land was pur- 
chased, officers were appointed, and the writer as Sec- 
retary and Superintendent went immediately to work, 
clearing up the then exceedingly rough and uninvit- 
ing piece of ground, and laying out the land into a 
cemeter^^ After getting thoroughly to work, Warner 
D, Shaw and ourself made up our minds to buy the 
ten acres adjoining on the south owned by Mr. Daw- 
ley, and add the same to the association portion of the 
cemetery, thus giving a street on three sides of it. 
Prominent citizens approved and promised their sup- 
port and the means to make the purchase. A. F, Al- 
len, Henry Baker and Wm. H. Lowry promised that 
they would together contribute $500 towards the Daw- 
ley purchase. E. T. Foote of New Haven promised 
$50, Warner D. Shaw and G. W. Hazeltine $50 each, 
A. T. Prendergast gave us $50 as a donation. Not one 
cent promised by Allen, Baker, Lowry and Foote was 
ever paid. With the exception of $150 paid by Shaw, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 475 

Hazeltine and Prendergast, the Dawley purchase was 
paid for out of the sale of lots. 



On October 5, 1859, Lake View Cemetery was ded- 
icated with appropriate ceremonies, a large assembly 
of citizens being present,^ 

Our object in mentioning Burials in this volume 
is this. We believe Lake View Cemetery the most 
tastefully laid out cemetery of its size we have ever 
seen. We worked faithfully over it for several years. 
The plan of that cemetery with all of its beauties and 
all of its faults is 6»^/7' 6>io/i an^^ no one's else. We are 
proud of it, and if justice is done the credit will be to 
our small account of good deeds accomplished here. 
We claim it as our due and as our right, and here pub- 
lish and record our claim. Justitia mrtutein regina. 



*Those desiring further information we refer to a small volume- 
of 100 pages prepared by us, and entitled Lake View Cemetery, pub 
lished in 1860. By referring to the Secretary's report of the proceed- 
ings of the first Cemetery meeting it will be seen that the motion to 
call the grounds Lake View Cemetery was made by G. W. Hazeltine. 
In the volume above mentioned, the credit, if any, is given to an- 
other. When the manuscript was in the hands of the printer, a per- 
son, not present at the meeting, ordered the change. Why, was not 
stated. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Semi-Centennial of the Chautauqua County Ag- 
ricultural Society — Dedication of the Log 
House on Marvin Park. 



On the 1st of September, 1886, the semi-centennial 
meeting of the Chautauqua County Agricultural So- 
ciety was held on Marvin Park, and a log house erect- 
ed by the old citizens of Jamestown and vicinity, as 
a memorial to their fathers — the pioneer settlers of 
Chautauqua County, was dedicated by appropriate ser- 
vices. So many interesting happenings, all at the same 
time, and all connected with or having reference to 
the first settlement of the county, should not be passed 
by with no reference to them in this volume. The 
event awakened in us many early recollections ; some 
recorded at the time, others we now place on record. 

At an early day the largest and most densely in- 
habited of all the swamps bordering on the outlet was 
called the " Big Fly," and extended on both sides of 
the stream from the lake to the rapids, and with a few 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 477 

short breaks to the Coiiewango. It was filled with all 
kinds of wild beasts, habitats of the country. They 
doubtless considered it a secure and pleasant locality 
in which to live. It was covered by a heavy growth 
of large trees, was the especial home of wild animals.; 
and prominently of the bear and the wild cat (lynx). 
The most blood-curdling stories of ^^paiiders'^ (panthers.) 
used to be told in those early days. Many had fre- 
quently seen them, or imagined they had seen them. 
They were of enormous size — as large as a dozen ordi- 
nary panthers ought to be. Some had frequently 
heard them crying like a child — trying, they said, to 
coax children down into the Fly, and if any should 
thoughtlessly be induced to go the painters would de- 
vour them. During the early settlement of the coun- 
try a few panthers were killed in this neighborhood, 
two we remember in the Fly, and two on Moon brook; 
we also remember that old hunters,those who came in as 
hunters, and not as settlers, used to say they expected 
to find many panthers here, but were dissappointed, 
that there were very few of them in this wilderness. 
Doubtless these nursery tales about painters were in- 
vented and told to their children by early settlers to 
keep them from wandering too far from home and 
into dangerous places, for bears were plenty, and we 
believe far more dangerous than the panther. They 
were continually shoojjIihj about the clearings, and 
made it an especial business to examine every farm- 
er's pig pen and tip over his beehives. The few pan- 
thers kept aloof from human habitations and concealed 
themselves in deep recesses of the forest ; nevertheless 
we could write a chapter of thrilling adventures that 
occurred in or near the " Big Fly," in early days, but 
space forbids. We have already been admonished 



478 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

that a sufficient number of pages have been given up 
to bear stories. 

Twenty-five or thirty 3'ears ago Judge Marvin 
purchased a large tract in this swamp which is now 
included within the boundaries of our city. Ever 
since he made the purchase of this almost valueless 
land as then considered, which it was necessary to 
fence to keep cows out of instead of keeping them in, 
the Judge has been yearly detected busily engaged in 
farming thereon, and finally there were whisperings 
among his neighbors that the}' feared the Judge was 
becoming a little daft. We would not dare to esti- 
mate the miles of ditches he caused to be built in that 
swamp — many of them costly and covered up, under- 
drains we believe they are called. Year after year it 
has been observed that the cows could feed nearer and 
near the outlet, and that the Judge's potato patches 
were in close pursuit of the cows. The Judge finally 
bought some large hills, very small mountains, in the 
neighborhood, and for many years, during the sum- 
mer time a score or more of men might be seen scoop- 
ing away at these hills, and a line of wagons convey- 
ing the gravel to the swamp. In the meantime the 
Judge was growing older, and the wisperings of his 
friends about daftness became audible and unmistak- 
able. The hills slowly but surely disappeared, and in 
useless localities valuable building lots commenced to 
appear. Miles of thoroughly built, high, close board 
:'ence were built, enclosing about one hundred acres of 
this swamp. The purest and best of spring water was 
brought by underground pipes from the surrounding 
hills, and is now flowing in and out of appropriate 
troughs in all parts of the ground, which has been by 
the ditches and gravel rendered as dr}^ and firm as any 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 479 

of the surrounding hill lands. Permanent, 
well roofed sheds covering a mile or more 
in extent, for cattle and horses, to which another 
mile is to be added in the near future, have been built 
One of the finest tracks for the speeding of horses and 
the exhibition of cattle is now building ; a hamlet of 
substantial, tine-appearing buildings — we can give but 
few names — Floral Hall, Dairy Hall, Mechanic's Hall, 
Machinery Hall, Dining Hall, Offices, etc., etc. etc. — 
have already been built, and to cap all a substantial 
log house was erected last summer (1886) to which a log 
school house and other buildings of logs, patterned 
after the log buildings of the early days, are to be 
added, Col. Winsor, the projector informs us, if re- 
quired for certain purposes. These magnificent 
grounds, this wonderful erection,is the Tamarac swamp 
of forty years ago, the great or " Big Fly" Mlien James- 
town was the Rapids, and to-day Marvin Park, a crea- 
tion of which we are, and well may be proud. Mrs. 
Grundy is most profoundly silent, not even the faint- 
est whisper is heard — the Judge is not daft. 

During the summer of 1886 a log house was 
erected by Col. S. B. Winsor, aided by the old citizens 
of Jamestown and the neighboring country, in com- 
memoration of the early settlers of Chautauqua County. 
On September 1st it was dedicated. The ladies of the 
town prepared a dinner in honor of Judge Marvin and 
the Old Settlers,to which all of that class on the grounds 
were invited. Dr. G. W. Hazeltine had been requested 
to make a dedicatory address, to be followed by Judge 
Marvin, who was to remember the founder of James- 
town, and thank the Ladies for the sumptuous dinner 
they were expected to prepare, and in which no one 



4:80 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

was disappointed. The whole affair passed off in a 
manner agreeable to all concerned. 

The occasion was the Semi-Centennial Anniver- 
sary of the Chautauqua County Agricultural Society, 
and as we have stated the log house was erected as a 
memorial of the early settlers of the county. A pam- 
phlet giving an account of the erection of the log 
house and containing an accurate picture of it, the 
dinner, by whom gotten up, and the names of the old 
people who partook, and the dedicatory speeches given 
in full, of which a thousand copies were printed and 
circulated, especially among young people, asking 
them to preserve the pamphlet and to be present at 
the Centennial Fair to be held on Marvin Park in 
1936. Doubtless a few children who were present last 
September will be present on that occasion — then old 
people — with that little pamphlet, on Marvin Park in 
1936. How encouraging the thought that we, although 
not there to see, will be remembered even for fifty 
years. But we have some misgivings. Will they not 
wander about enquiring, Who was Judge R. P. Marvin? 
Who was but we stop, but such is fame. 

We give the following extracts from the speeches 
on that occasion : 

FROM DK. HAZELTINE's ADDRESS. 
* * * -X- * 

Engaged as I have been for some months past in 
writing up the history of the town of Ellicott and the 
more prominent of its early settlers ; of fathers and 
mothers who lived in houses built of logs, of which the 
one before us is an excellent pattern, I have been led 
to reflect upon the immense labor they performed, and 
when I consider the hardships and privations they 
endured, and the care they took to establish within 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 481 

their borders the church, the school house, and the 
printing press, that you might live in elegant ease on 
farms of unsurpassed beauty, enjoying all these Christ- 
ian privileges, all of these educational advantages, all 
of these great sources of enlightenment, of power, of 
wealth, and of happiness; when I reflect upon all this, 
they become in ray imagination, the most noble, 
praiseworthy people of which any country can boast. 

A few days ago I was permitted to view a rude 
picture of a small log cabin and its surroundings, set 
in a small notch in the forest. The young friend who 
exhibited it to me, said it was taken by her grand- 
mother in the winter of 1815, and remarked that her 
grandfather came into the country from ^''ermont in 
the spring of 1814, and drove a team for some neigh- 
bors who were emigrating to Chautauqua ; that soon 
after his arrival he bought the article for 200 acres of 
land, and set to w^ork and slashed and partly cleared a 
couple of acres, and built a small log cabin. "He hired 
the span of horses he drove into the country for three 
months, and when the time expired one of the owner's 
sons came six miles through the woods and helped 
him three days to get his cabin up,thentook the horses 
home. After sowing some mustard and other seeds, 
and planting a bitter-sweet to be trained over the door 
and window, and planting a few seeds,and flower bulbs 
as Mary had directed him to do, he started for Ver- 
mont, walking nearly the wdiolc distance, catching an 
occasional ride for a few miles. A short time after his 
arrival home his father gave him a yoke of oxen he 
had himself broke, and wliich he preferred to a span 
of horses, and a new^ wagon with a good canvas cover, 
and a small box of tools, but little else, as he did not 



482 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

think it best to draw a heavy load on so long a jour- 
ney. 

On the 24th of September Mar^-'s things were put 
into the wagon and everything prepared for the jour- 
ney. At 5 o'clock the next morning John and Mary 
(these were the names of my grandfather and grand- 
mother) were married. The bountiful wedding break- 
fast was eaten, mingled with many tears, although 
nearly all the young folks present, afterwards found 
their homes where they lived and died, in Chautau- 
qua. After breakfast was over, John's brother and 
Mary's brother lifted her up and placed her in her seat 
in the wagon. Mary's father said a short prayer and 
kissed her good bye, and then went to John who was 
leaning on the ox yoke and said, 'John, take good care 
of yourself and Mary. You have mj^ blessing. May 
you be prospered and have God's blessing. It is now 
time to start. Good bye.' John spoke to the oxen, 
they moved out of the yard, and tlie long wedding- 
journey had commenced. We were given the whole 
history of their long journey of over six hundred miles 
to their home in the wilderness; that Mary, near 
Utica bought two cows with calves old enough to stand 
the journey, which she herself drove over 250 miles to 
the new home." My informant added," Grandmother 
did not have to drive much after the first few days, 
they followed, and seemed troubled if the wagon for a 
moment got out of their sight." I might give you an 
account of their whole journey, and of their first year 
and more at their new home. Suffice it to say they 
had hard labor and many trials to endure, but they 
were prospered and conquered all difficulties. We 
will add the comment of my young friend : "Yes, I 
am descended from early settlers of this county, but I 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 483 

do not wish to be any nearer to the first settlement of 
a country tlian I am now. It would not suit me to be 
married at 5 o'clock in tlie morning, get into a wagon 
full of furniture, and ride after an ox team for six 
weeks; live in a little log shanty with the wolves 
howling all about, and live on johnny cake and pork 
and deer's meet for five long years before I saw any of 
my old friends. I wouldn't do it for the best John in 
Chautauqua County, even if I loved him as much as 
my grandmother loved my dear old grandfather. At 
least, I now think I A'ould not. I cannot positively 
say what might happen, but I am perfectly safe now in 
saying, I ivovld roV 

This, my friends, is but a fair sample of our 
fathers and mothers ; the picture is under drawn, not 
over drawn. 

Duly considering these great labors and privations 
of the early settlers, you, their descendants, should 
have engaged the most silver-toiied eloquent voice in 
this whole country to speak to you to-day, and to ded- 
icate this log house to their memory. It is an humble 
edifice, but in such they lived and died. If each of 
those logs were gold from the mines of California — if 
the roof thereof was silver from the deep bowels of the 
Rock}'^ mountains — if its floors were covered with the 
soft carpets of Wilton — or with rugs from Persian 
looms — the}^ would not half as well speak your affec- 
tionate remembrance, and the deep love you have, and 
which I trust your children will have to the latest gen- 
eration, for you7' fathers and your mothers, who wrest- 
ed the beautiful farms on which you live from a howl- 
ing wilderness, and left them — with the cattle on a 
thousand hills — to you a legacy. 



484 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 



The hardy Saxon who had planted himself on the 
Atlantic border of this continent, claimed under na- 
ture's universal charter, the whole country to the Pa- 
cific coast as fast as he could send his sons to take 
possession. These settlements grew and their popu- 
lation rapidly increased. The ancient oak and pine 
fell before the stroke of the axe. We see them even 
before the settlement of this county passing over the 
Alleghany Mountains at the south of us, and up the 
chain of the Great Lakes to the north of us, making 
roads, building bridges, subduing the forests, and es- 
tablishing themselves on the border of the Lakes and 
on both sides of the Ohio even to the Mississippi. The 
wilderness is everywhere changed as if by magic into 
a civilized countrv, smiling with plenty. Such are 
the wonder working effects of industry, and our own 
county emerges from its wilderness state but slightly 
in advance of the planting of all the arts of industry 
and civilization over the whole continent, from ocean 
to ocean. 

* * W •!{• * 

I desire, my friends, that you should fully realize 
how rapidly this county has grown up. Within the 
memory of living men, it has been reclaimed from a 
wildernessvwhose only inhabitants were Indians and 
wild beasts. During that time, it has passed its in- 
fancy, the log cabin period, as well as that of its early 
manhood, your own boyhood days, in which the last 
land office payments were made, the stumps pulled, 
fences made, and good frame barns built and the first 
frame houses of the more forehanded erected, and to 
this has succeeded the period in which your own 
beautiful farms and palatial dwellings begin to appear. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 485 

***** 

The hamlet of the Rapids has passed away. 
Jamestown, the village of your fathers, to which you 
were accustomed to come on horseback to mill, has 
spread out into the Pearl City, immense factories have 
supplanted the saw mills, and a hundred steam whis- 
tles summon thousands of busy operatives to their 
daily labors, instead of Aunt Nancy Prendergast's 
tin horn summoning the Judge and Alexander to din- 
ner. 

***** 

It is only a little more than 70 years ago that the 
town of Ellicott was set off from the town of Pomfret, 
then including the present towns of Carroll, Poland, 
Kiantone and a part of Busti. Where Jamestown now 
stands there was not a single inhabitant, not a tree 
had been cut or a log cabin erected. The location was 
known in the north part of the county as the Rapids. 
The wild deer then lapped the brackish water of which 
he is so fond at the crossings of your principal streets. 
Seventy years ago there were less than 150 inhabitants 
in the whole town of Ellicott, as then organized, but 
those settlers had come to stay, to live here and to die 
here. Nine of those hardy pioneers of seven decades 
ago, came together at my father's house, up to that 
time the usual meeting place, and named their home, 
the hamlet by the rapids,Jamestown, in honor of James 
Prendergast, the noble, generous hearted founder of 
this locality. The nine in their surroundings saw the 
promise of a future village, and more than one in 
fevered dreams had seen the spires and pinnacles of a 
future city, towering heavenward on yonder hills. 

Those few j^ears onh^ intervene between us and 
our present environments, and the days when 



486 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Through the deep wilderness where scarce the sun 

Can cast his darts, along the winding path 

The pioneer is treading. In his grasp 

Shines his keen axe, that wondrous instrument 

That like the fabled talisman, transforms 

Deserts to fields and cities. He has left 

The home in which his early years were passed, 

And led by hope, and full of restless strength. 

Has pluijged witliiu the forest, there to plant 

His destiny. Beside some rapid stream 

He rears his log walled cabin. When the chains 

Of winter fetter Nature, and no sound 

Disturbs the echoes of the dreary woods. 

Save when some stem cracks .sharply with the frost; 

Then merrily rings his axe, and tree on tree 

Crashes to earth; and when the long keen night 

Mantles the wilderness in .solemn gloom, 

He sits beside his ruddy hearth, and hears 

The tierce wolf snarling at the cabin door. 

Or through the lowly casement sees his eye 

Gleam like a coal of fire. 

[Alfred Street. 



Where we now stand was called the Fly, and was 
the chosen home of the bear, the panther, and the lynx. 
And what is it to-day! Marvin Park ; a proud name 
which it will continue to wear as long as the city of 
Jamestown continues to stand on yonder hills. Yet 
in its infancy, Chautauqua is proud of it, and the name 
it bears. Chautauqua county has as much reason to be 
proud as any other county of the Empire state. Proud 
of her early settlers and their beautiful daughters, the 
women of to-day; — proud of her judges, and of her 
learned men; — proud of her daily and weekly 
newspapers; — proud of her schools; — proud of her 
manufactories; — proud of her working classes, in 
whom there is taint of neither socialism or anar- 
chy; — proud of her farmers and mechanics; and proud 
of yonder beautiful lake, which, God grant, may 
forever bind her together, one county, one people. 
Cursed be the man or set of men, who ever attempt to 



TPIE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 487 

divide Chautauqua county; to cut in twain old Jadau 
quail, the medicine waters of the ancient Senecas. Bet- 
ter for them that mill stones be fastened around their 
accursed necks, and they cast into the ^'■hottondess hoW^ 
opposite to Long Point; — court house or no court house, 
Chautauqua county first; — court house afterwards. 
We are proud of Chautauqua lake, with the greatest 
and most unique Educational Institution at one end 
and the Pearl City and Marvin Park at the other, and 
surrounded on all sides by the most beautiful land- 
scapes in the world. We have a right to be proud, and 
who shall chide us for being proud. 

***** 

Where can you find a more beautiful and service- 
able piece of ground anywhere than will be this Mar- 
vin Park when completed? And we trust Judge Mar- 
vin and his son, Robert Marvin, will not fold their 
hands until they have completed it according to their 
original designs. Jamestown is proud of its environ- 
ments. And this county from Dunkirk on the north 
to the '■'■hoot jack'''' on the south,is proud of Jamestown,a 
few long-haired or bald-headed politicians to the con- 
trar3^ The people of this county are proud of Chautau- 
qua and all her belongings. And I now say to the ven- 
erable Judge that although it will be long before this 
county forgets his legal learning and his statesmanship, 
nevertheless, when the marble marking his resting 
place in Lake View Cemetery on yonder hill shall have 
crumbled into ruins, and his achievements at the bar, 
on the bench, and in the counsels of the nation are 
forever forgotten, Marvin Park will remain in name as 
in reality, a blessing and a joy to this people, and a 
monument unto himself forever. 

Half a century ago the south part of this county 



488 THE EARLY HISTOHT OF 

had not ceased to be a wilderness, and save the few 
who lived near tlie saw mills where boards were 
cheaper than logs, the inhabitants lived in log houses, 
houses like unto this you have here erected. Our fath- 
ers wore coarse clothes made from cloth, wove by our 
mothers on looms in log houses like this; our mothers! 
the best, the handsomest, smartest, most energetic wo- 
men that ever lived. 

Within that period we have developed from a 
small village into a sin all city, and that development 
has been healthy, strong and vigorous. What is to be 
the future development ? Without claiming to be a 
prophet, we answer, in tlie future, as in the past, our 
course, is to be onward, right onward, until you cele- 
brate on Marvin Park, bv the side of this log house, 
the centennial as you do to day the semi-centennial 
of the organization of the Chautauqua County Agri- 
cultural Society, and hereon hold a Fair of the coun- 
ty's products. You cannot prevent this onward move- 
ment if you would; you are bound to pass through an- 
other fifty years of advancement and prosperity. On- 
ward, right onward, is to be your course. Let others, 
less fortunate in their location, with less backbone, and 
less favored by nature, do all the growling. It is far 
better to live three miles away from a small lake with 
a crooked outlet, and by the side of a swamp like this, 
with "Bob" Marvin to sow it with hills of gravel, and to 
reap such an abundant and substantial harvest of Park 
and Fairground, than by the biggest lake on the con- 
nent. I say Fairground, for I most sincerely believe 
that this society will here hold an annual fair until 
j'onder outlet shall forget its crookedness and become 
straight. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 489 

There are few here who have not seen a log cabin 
before ; many of you have lived in one, and climbed 
its perpendicular ladder to the spacious loft and there 
slept as sweetly and soundly as in the most elegant 
residence of which this county can boast. It was in 
such buildings as this your stalwart fathers lived when 
they reclaimed from the unbroken wilderness the 
farms which are now your beautiful homes. You have 
erected this log dwelling to their memory and to the 
memory of your mothers, In no other way could you 
a,s w^ell have shown your love and affection for 
them. 

And now we dedicate this house of logs as a 
monument and memorial to the pioneer settlers of 
Chautauqua County; and I charge those who from 
time to time may be the officers of this association, or 
who have the care of Marvin Park, to guard it and see 
that it is kept sacred to the purposes for which it was 
erected ; as a memento of the past, sacred to the mem- 
ory of the settlers of this great county, as it teas and is 
and always shall he — Chautauqua. Bounded on the 
north by the possessions of our pleasant friend and 
neighbor, Mrs. Victoria Albert-Coberg Canada, on the 
east by the remaining portion of the Empire State, on 
the south and west by the farms of the heirs of Mr. 
Penn, and by E. Plarihvs Unwra to the Gulf of Mexico 
and the Pacific Ocean — Chautauqua County — the 
Yankee center of all creation — and so may she remain, 
one and undivided urdo tlie end of time. We charge 
you to furnish it with the spinning wheel, both great 
and small, and with the loom, for it was with the aid 
of these that your mothers manufactured the first cloth 
that covered your poor bare backs. I charge you to 
rightly arrange the roomy fire place, and erect the 



490 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

chimney of sticks and untempered mortar, and make 
fast therein the proper lug pole, or if you will, the pon- 
derous crane, well supplied with hooks and tramels. 
For it was before a tire built of four-foot logs in such a 
fire-place, your mothers baked their johnnycakes on 
boards hewed from the ash and the maple. It was 
from such lug poles that they suspended their pots 
and kettles containing the venison and the bear's meat 
and potatoes, and prepared the frugal daily meal ; 
over which your fathers expressed their deep thanks, 
and asked the blessings of Almighty God. We charge 
you to keep the hearth thereof well swept and the cosy 
benches in the jambs in good order. For it was in 
those warm corners that many of you courted the 
girls, then dressed in linsey-woolsey of their own man- 
ufacture, who have since proved so true and faitliful 
helpmeets through the best part of your lives. We 
charge you to see that the windows thereof are kept 
in good repair; when a glass is broken see that it is 
immediately renewed; if that is not possible, a clean 
piece of white paper must be substituted ; old hats and 
bundles of rags must not at any time be allowed, for 
they speak louder than words, of laziness and unthrift. 
We charge you to see that the door thereof is in good 
order; the hinges of wood well greased to prevent any 
unpleasant, or from sle^p awakening squeak; the latch 
in good order, and the latch string hanging out; for 
the log cabins and houses of your fathers were not 
only their homes, but they were also the asylums of 
the way worn and of the traveler lost in the wilder- 
ness. ' 

As charged, you are expected faithfully to per- 
form and to deliver this log house,with its fire place,its 
chimney and its chimney corners, its lug pole in good 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOIT. 491 

condition, its hooks and its tramels, and all utensils, 
its wheels and its loom and other furniture, its win- 
dows and its door, with proper latch and hinges, to 
your successors at the Centennial fair, to be held on 
Marvin Park in 1936, fifty years from, to-day, at which 
time the young peojjle here to day are invited to take 
their places at the dinner table prepared for the old 
settlers of Chautauqua County, and listen to the inter- 
estino^ address to be delivered on th'it occasion. 



After Dr. Hazeltine had taken his seat, Judge 
Richard P. Marvin arose and spoke substantially as fol- 
lows: 

What shall I say, not what should be said? The 
mind takes in, in a moment of time, w^hat may re- 
quire hours to utter in speech. I have thought of the 
numerous families of the early settlers in Jamestown 
and this part of the county, and the peculiar charac- 
teristics of these families are strongly marked ; and 
the idea had occurred to attempt a description of them, 
and there entered into my mind dozens of these fam- 
ilies. I am compelled to abandon any such attempt. 
I will refer only to the founder of Jamestown — now the 
city — whose Christian name, James, was given to the 
village by its earliest inhabitants. The family con- 
sisted of James Prendergast, his wife, Nancy Thomp- 
son Prendergast, and an only son, Alexander, then a 
small boy. Mr. Prendergast was at an early day, ap- 
pointed one of the county judges, and hence was 
known in all parts of the county as Judge Prender- 
gast. It must suffice in my very brief remarks to say 
that Mrs. Prendergast w^as universally beloved on ac- 
count of her own lovely character. No account was 
ever kept by her of her charities to those who for a 



492 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

time, struggling with the difficulties of a new settle- 
ment, literally in the wilderness, needed temporary 
aid and encouragement. She was a good, a noble wo- 
man, of Scotch ancestry. * * "^ ' 

The life and character of the Judge has been of- 
ten sketched. When I say he was the right man in 
the right place do I not say all that it may be neces- 
sary to say here. So saying implies that he used what 
for those days were quite ample means, in erectmg 
mills, a necessity for a large extent of country, then 
rapidly filling up by those brave, sturdy settlers, who 
were to make Southern Chautauqua what she now is; 
by assisting the building up of the village, rendering 
aid and encouragement to all worthy enterprises. His 
son grew up in the village here. After his father, in 
1836, sold his Jamestown property, the family for a 
time lived in Ripley, and then moved into the town 
of Carroll, now Kiantone, some six miles south of 
Jamestown. Here the Judge owned a large tract of 
valuable farming land, largely improved at the time. 
It was here that the son, Alexander, developed a taste 
for farming, based upon a sound judgment. The 
management of this large property was 
left mainly to Alexander, and to him, I 
think, more than any other man in the 
county, for many years, we were indebted for the great 
improvement in cattle, especially the Durhams or 
Short Horns.He imported some of the best specimens 
of this favorite breed o^ cattle, and as his herd in- 
creased, he sold, upon reasonable terms, .the young full 
bloods, and their descendants are to be found, more or 
less pure, in all parts of the county, and they appear at 
all our agricultural fairs as competitors for prizes. But, 
my friends, say what I may of your indebtedness to 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 493 

him for improved methods of farming and of improv- 
ing the breeds of cattle — these dwindle into nothing- 
ness when we contemplate Alexander T. Prendergast's 
great nobleness of character. He stands in the front 
rank of nobility viewed as a generous, charitable man, 
As such he is far above my feeble praise. I should have 
stated that Alexander," after his mother's death married 
in Ripley, Miss Mary Norton, who became the female 
head of the family; she is still living and present with 
us this day, and all that it may be proper for me to say 
here is that the union was a happy one. They had 
two children, a boy and a girl. The girl, a beautiful 
and promising one, was taken from them at the early 
age of about ten. The boy, James, attained early man- 
hood. His character was noble and worthy of imita- 
tion by all young men. As he was the sole heir appa- 
rent of his father's large wealth, liberal advances were 
made to him. He conceived the idea of erecting in 
this village a monument to the memory of his grand- 
father and to the family, and he purchased the lots on 
the corner of Main and Third streets and erected the 
beautiful block known as the "Prendergast Block." 
James served one term in the legislature of the state, 
probably the youngest member in it. He died after a 
short illness, at the age of 31 years. Naturally thought- 
ful, he had prepared the drafts of a will, by which he 
gave the Prendergast Block for a Jamestown library. 
This paper was found, after his death, unexecuted, and 
here was at once exhibited a noble trait in the charac- 
ter of his father, Alexander, who was the heir of his 
son, James. He declared instantly, that the intention 
of James as manifested by the unexecuted paper should 
be carried into full effect. An act of legislature was 
procured incorporating the James Prendergast Library 



494 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

Association, and Alexander Prender^ast and his wife 
executed a conveyance of this valuable property to 
such corporation. Alexander Prendergast, who had 
left his farm, (though still continuing its management) 
and moved into Jamestown, died August 1, 1885. 
Thus this Prendergast family is extinct. It has taken 
more of my time to say what I have said of Judge 
James Prendergast and his family than I thought, but 
if I said any thing how could I have said less. 

It is due to the enterprising and thrifty farmers 
in this and adjoining towns, that I should notice 
specially their act of love and reverence for their fath- 
ers and mothers, who, imbued with faith, hope and 
charity, entered with the pledges of their love, into the 
dense forest, built for them the house of logs, cut on the 
spot from tall, straight trees, these farmers to whom 
reference is here made, conceived a few weeks since, 
the happy thought of placing in the Marvin Park a 
memorial of those who felled the forests and commenced 
the making of the beautiful farms which they now 
occupy and enjoy, and upon which they have substi- 
tuted the brick or the framed house for the log house 
of their fathers, in which some of them were nurtured, 
and reared, and educated in the log school house, per- 
haps a mile from the hearthstone so dear to them, and 
the entire family circle. To these men are we indebted 
for the beautiful log house just dedicated, and to them 
we make our acknowledgements and render our 
thanks. With these enterprising farmers, to conceive 
was to execute. Such is the spirit of the age. They 
put their hands to the plow and look not back but to 
see that the furrow is straight. As to the dedication 
of this house, in this historical memorial, it will not be 



THE TOVVX OF ELLICOTT. 495 

expected of me to commit the folly of attempting to 
add to the eloquent dedicator}^ address of my friend 
Dr. Hazeltine. I can add nothing of interest to what 
he has said so well. I will add, however, that he can- 
not surpass me in admiration of united Chautauqua, 
three-fourths of whose territory situate in the valley of 
the great Father of Waters and one-fourth in the val- 
ley of the St. Lawrence, through which magnificent 
rivers, the springs found on all the farms, and the 
rivulets and large streams find their way to the ocean 
thousands of miles away; occupying the gateway be- 
tween the East and the West caused by the Alleghany 
Mountains ; extending on the North, into the ad- 
joining county of Cattaraugus, and on the South, 
into Georgia, the Alleghany and upper Ohio 
rivers gently flowing along its western base, to 
join the Mississippi in its southern course to the 
sea ; hence the numerous railroads crossing the 
county east and west, extending from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific, and other roads north and soutli to the rich 
ore and coal beds of the mountain and the petroleum 
oil fields of Western Pennsylvania. All these are 
beneficial to the farmer, and where may lie look for a 
more satisfactory home? May Chautauqua County 
ever remain as she is with her present boundaries — no 
division, no disintegration. 

***** 

It occurs to me that the ladies, wlio have taken so 
lively an interest in the dedicatory services, have, for 
some time, been thinking, "Has the Judge forgotten 
us?" Ladies, if you think so, you have done me un- 
intentional injustice. No, no, you have not for a 
moment been forgotten, but you have been a trouble 
to me all along my extended remarks. My mind has 



496 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

been occupied in endeavoring to think out remarks 
appropriate to the occasion. I have not been able to 
satisfy myself, and am really, in your presence, not a 
little embarrassed. I think I comprehend to some 
extent your beautiful conceptions, if I have not mis- 
taken their design, you have carried them into exe- 
cution most elegantly, most artistically, you have fed 
us most bountifully, and after the manner of the 
fathers you have our thanks. 

As to the guests; you have succeeded in bring- 
ing to your table many octogenarians, more a little 
short of that age, and I am sure I can truthfully say, 
not one of your guests left, or will leave the table with 
any appetite for more, and I shall be safe in saying 
that all of us have been delighted with the entertain- 
ment, and in behalf of all your guests I tender to you 
our warm and earnest thanks, trusting and believing 
that the interesting chapter of history to which you 
have so well contributed will be known, read and 
understood by your children and their children so 
long as the monument built on these grounds, to com- 
memorate the virtues of j^our ancestors, shall remain 
Repeating our thanks, I bid"you farewell. 



MEMORIALS. 



REUBEN EATON FENTON 

Was the youngest son of George W. and Elsie 
(Owen) Fenton, the pioneer settlers on the banks of 
the Conewango, in that part of the town of Ellicott 
now known as Carroll. He was born in the town of 
Ellicott July 4th, 1819, and he died in the town of 
Ellicott August 25th, 1885. 



It is not for us to write the biography of this emi- 
nent man ; or the history of the times in M'hich he 
lived. It is not for us to follow his footsteps through 
the important places he filled, or to speak of the prom- 
inent parts he played in this great drama of life. 
Other and far greater biographers and historians will 
do all this. Reuben E. Fenton did not belong to the 
town of Ellicott, or to Chautauciua county, or to the 
state of New York — but to the United States and to the 
world. The attempt to confine the labors of his life — 
or the memory of them, to our small territory, would 
be as insane and as futile as that of the imbecile, who, 
with his pint cup, would remove the waters of the 
beautiful Conewango because they rippled past the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 499 

mansion in which he was born, — forgetful that they 
would soon be claimed by the sparkling Alleghany, 
and then the bright Ohio, and that ere long the 
mighty Mississippi w^ould bear them on her majestic 
tide to the great ocean that washes every shore. 

But we may be permitted to say that Ellicott was 
the town in which he was born; that his boyhood days 
were passed on the banks of that beautiful stream 
wdiich conveys the crystal waters of Chautauqua Lake 
in the first part of their journey to the far distant Mex- 
ican gulf. That the neighboring school house of logs 
is where he gained his first rudiments of knowledge, 
and where he studied his Daboll, that sowed in his 
young and fruitful mind those small seeds of mathe- 
matical knowledge which in after years grew into 
that noble and wide extending tree, — spreading its 
branches over the nations, and bearing so great a fruit- 
age of financial knowledge on which a world's com- 
merce and wealth are founded. It was the home of 
his youth, and it was in Chautauqua's Academies and 
Seminaries of learning that for the most part he gained 
that rudimentary knowledge which laid in his expan- 
sive intellect that broad foundation on which he reared 
the superstructure of his future fame. It was here, 
while quietly folloMang the pursuits of his early life, 
that the greatness which was inherent in him was dis- 
covered and clearly discerned by a few acute minds, 
and in early manhood through their influence he was 
sent to the Nation's Congress. The opportunity thus 
presenting, Reuben E. Fenton's great mind expanded 
and matured by its own native and inborn power. He 
well knew the qualities of his own intellect and how 
much of ability it could be made to yield by thorough 
cultivation; he understood wherein his greatest power 



500 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

consisted, and he diligently used every means to culti- 
vate those faculties which he was aware could alone 
secure him success. He read with the greatest ardor 
all works on government, and especially the political 
history of our own country and its advancement in the 
science of government, and instituted rigid compari- 
sons between the genius of our own laws and those of 
other countries. 

It is seldom that a man is as self conscious as was 
Reuben E. Fenton. He was aware that his powers were 
equal to the heaviest of tasks ; he knew that he could 
comprehend all that men had known. He felt con- 
scious that his powers of acquiring, and his industry, 
were unsurpassed, and still more; — he felt that knowl- 
edge in his mind would not be a dead and useless 
weight, but that a power was in him inherent, to mould 
and transform, and to bequeath to the future high and 
worthy thoughts and desires, on all subjects upon 
which he should fix his mind. 

For several terms he was re-elected to Congress 
in succession, excepting one term, and very soon his 
opinions came to have great weight, and although yet 
young, he was looked upon as a leader, and was placed 
on the most important of the congressional commit- 
tees. But what to us was more important than all was 
his conduct during the war. The ardent patriotism 
he then evinced, belongs only to the highest order of 
minds, for it is the teaching of all history, that true 
patriotism manifests itself in the greatest strength in 
the most gifted individuals. The love of country is a 
sentiment so expansive in its nature, so wide in its 
views, so benevolent in feeling, so far-reaching, ener- 
getic and pow^erful, that it is beyond the comprehen- 
sion of cold hearts and narrow minds. Patriotism is 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 501 

the attribute of generous, benevolent and noble na- 
tures, and is the highest conferred on man by his Cre- 
ator. In it is centered the wealth of all past experi- 
ences, and keeping in advance of human actions, pene- 
trates the future. It is exhaustless in invention, and 
connects causes with effects, and in past events learns 
what the future should be. True love of country fills 
its votaries with a hope whii^h cheers and is ever sus- 
taining; it is fertile of expedients, firm amidst dangers* 
and always sustains the weak and faint hearted. It 
shows its greatest and most glorious power in caring 
for those who have fought its battles ; not those only 
who led the soldiery in the midst of the fight, but the 
poor soldier himself, who, as he lies bleeding on the 
field of strife, finds his best and life saving friend in 
the true patriot. It is he who secures him good at- 
tendance when sick and wounded, soothes his nostal- 
gia, renews hope, and excites to deeds of future valor, 
and thus builds up an army and a state that connot be 
conquered. Reuben E. Fenton was one of the true, un- 
failing patriots of the war of the Rebellion, and as such 
gained for himself that glorious appellation, not only 
in his own state, but in all the Northern states, and 
even among the stricken soldiers of the rebel south, 
"FENTON, THE SOLDIER'S FRIEND." 

Twice he was elected Governor of the Empire 
State, a station he filled with honor and signal ability; 
full of patriotic zeal he was signall}^ the man the Em- 
pire state needed in her great emergency. 

Reuben E. Fenton regarded the Republic with 
more than filial love and affection, and he never for a 
moment doubted that it would be rescued unfarnished 
from the peril which menaced it ; and, that placed on 



502 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

a still more secure basis with slavery abolished, and 
his country able to truly say that all men are free and 
equal, it would shine with greatly increased lustre, 
and would continue to hold aloft the beacon torch 
which should finally be a light to enlighten the whole 
world. He deemed it his duty to prosecute the war 
with renewed vigor until the last musket should be 
wrenched from the grasp of the last traitor to the Re- 
public. Patriotism and love of country were the all- 
absorbing themes of his discourses in the old log school 
house on the banks of the Conewango ; he constantly 
kept them before his mind as constituting a bright 
beacon, constantly advancing before him — constantly 
attracting him by its brightness, and constantly allur- 
ing him onward. Now, when he had become the Gov- 
ernor of his native state, and during a period in which 
the Republic was menaced with the greatest danger, 
and its very existence threatened with destruction, he 
felt that duty demanded that he dedicate to her ser- 
vice his best talents, and energies, and powers. The 
state of New York was kept at the front in sending her 
men and means to the country's defense. He proved 
himself 

THE WAR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 

At the close of his term as Governor he was cho- 
sen to represent the state in the United States Senate. 
Of all the manifestations of human ability and power, 
Mr. Fenton regarded that of Statesman the highest to 
which men could attain. To accomplish himself as 
such he made all knowledge attainable subservient; — 
not only history, political economy and science of gov- 
ernment yielded to his active mind their neccessary 
treasures, but poetry, philosophy, and the classics of 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 503 

ancient and modern literature were compelled to afford 
all the aid they could to minister to his wants. A 
friend one day approached him with the question, 
" Fenton, why do you devote so much time to these 
deep, abstruse studies of law, government and political 
economy ? You are only building a monument which 
at your death will melt away and disappear like some 
gorgeous cloud pile, which the wind and the sun scat- 
ters, never again to appear." "You remark truly, my 
friend, that all of man's knowledge disappears, is 
buried with him and is soon forgotten. As a matter 
of ambition I consider all of this w^ork but a vanity 
and vexation of spirit — but it is not with an ambitious 
spirit that I tr}^ to make myself conversant with this 
matter, but that I may discharge my duty to the very 
best of my abihty to my constitutents and to the 
country. Do you not find in dut}^ well performed one 
of the greatest sources of happiness ? I do, and when 
I have discharged my duty to my satisfaction, the 
winds may throw down the monument, as you are 
pleased to call it, as soon as they choose — I care not." 
Fenton was impelled to the deep studies of finance, 
political economy, and science of government, not 
only that he might more understandingly and more 
thoroughly perform his duty to his constituents and to 
the country, but likewise from a love inherent in his 
nature for the work. The mechanism of his mind was 
particularly adapted to such investigations ; and fur- 
thermore, he was smitten with the beauty of the ideal 
he had formed in his own mind, of the duties required 
of a true statesman, and he was urged by an irresisti- 
ble desire to give that ideal expression in his own acts. 
He labored for this as the painter labors to express the 
glowing conceptions of his imagination upon the can- 



504 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

vass, and for the mastery of his art. Reuben E. Fen- 
ton bound himself for life to this pursuit, and no 
change of circumstances in himself, or in the affairs of 
the country, no weariness, no increased weight of toil 
and of labor, could induce him to abandon the ideal 
which his mind had produced. He did not depend 
upon his acquired knowledge, it was the creation 
of his soul — it existed as an unfashioned image of 
beauty in his mind, and he worked incessantly to give 
that image with all of the attributes with which his 
intellect had clothed it to the world. It was a perfect 
ideal, an image of beauty, which had been born of his 
own soul, had in embryo taken root in his own mind, 
there developed, and had come forth enwrapped in his 
own soul's deepest thoughts and desires; as truly so as 
the best and most beautiful creations of Grecian art 
which have survived the centuries, came forth to 
astonish and enrapture a world-enwrapped in the soul 
of Phidias. 

When we reflect upon the character of the man, 
and the vast work he accomplished, his great traits 
become more and more apparent, and his intellect 
stands forth as one of superior order. The memory of 
his good deeds — his remarkably studious and laborious 
life — his devotion to the service of his country' — his 
labors in the cause of liberty and universal freedom — 
his more than nobleness, after his retiracy to private 
life — his interest in the welfare of his childhood's 
home — liis sudden death — when we reflect upon these, 
Reuben E. Fenton stands forth in our presence with 
an interest, a power, a nobleness, we cannot escape. 
And the record of these virtues is the noblest legacy 
the great and the good can bequeath to posterity. 
They are the foundations of principles, which influ- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 505 

ence the future, act through all time, aud are never 
forgotten. Their true power may not be rightly and 
fully comprehended in the present, but they will become 
more and more deeply felt in the future, and will be- 
come more and more ethcient for good as the nation 
advances in true knowledge and virtue. The good 
such men do can never die; it endures with life-giving 
and eternal power, and forms in the hearts of thous- 
ands a beautiful ideal, in which it lives forever. 

His affections were deep and tender ; he was calm, 
quiet and unassuming in demeanor, and faithful and 
true to all the conditions of domestic and of public 
life. His devotion to his family, his friends, and to 
the countr}' and to its welfare, shone more and more 
brightly to the close of his life. There is nothing in 
his character we more admire than the quiet, dignified 
manner in which he withstood the injuries and insults 
heaped upon him when his great and growing ad- 
vancement stood in the way of an ambitious, unscru- 
pulous and powerful contemporary and associate. The 
calm philosophy, stern integi'ity, and love of virtue 
with which he mantled himself, and nobly stood and 
proudly fell, a martyr, midst the general corruption, 
was an act of Roman virtue and patriotism, far exceed- 
ing and above our feeble praise. It is upon such men 
that the true advancement and enlightenment of na- 
tions have always depended and must continue to de- 
pend. Their noble deeds are soon implanted in the 
mind and imprinted on the heart of the child, and 
from child to children, and handed down to children's 
children — from generation to generation, until the 
good flowing from the heart and mind of one man 
have filled the whole earth. His devotion to the 
countrv and to its welfare shone more and more 



506 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

brigli-'ly to the close of his life. A public service com- 
mencing so early, at the very dawn of manhood, and 
continuing so long — of equal brightness, so filled with 
generous, patriotic and noble acts, is not recorded on 
the pages of our country's history, superior to that of 
Reuben E. Fenton. This is the verdict of to-day, and 
it will continue to be the verdict when the history of 
his acts and of his time is written. 

The day that Gov. Fenton died we stepped into 
the bank to see him on a matter of business. We were 
met by our friend, Mr. Kent, with the jocose enquiry, 
" If we w^ere still living;" we replied that we were, and 
intended to continue until he was disposed of, which 
probably would not detain long. Mr. Fenton came 
around 'from behind the cashier's counter, laughing, 
and said, "You are both older men than I am, but you 
should not be surprised if you both outlived me. I 
have a difficulty here," putting his hand up to his left 
breast — "that troubles me occasionally, and I feel it 
now — I do not know what it is — but I sometimes im- 
agine the difficulty is at the heart, and I think it quite 
probable I may die suddenly." We passed into bis 
private room, and were engaged wath business perhaps 
fifteen minutes! Another person, in the meantime 
came in. We chatted for a short time; we never saw 
the Governor in better humor or in better spirits. We 
asked him in a jocose way, what had become of his 
heart disease ? He replied, " Oh, it is there. Doctor. I 
feel it, and it troubles me; but we must not always 
brood over our ailments in the presence of friends." 
We soon passed out and came home, and a few min- 
utes later one came running into our house with the 
intelligence, "Governor Fenton is dead." He never 
left the room in which we left him, alive. 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOIT. 507 

On the day of his burial the sun rose bright and 
warm, after four days of cloud and cold and gloom. 
It did seem as if nature had been weeping and mourn- 
ing his departure; and now when so many had gath- 
ered together from all parts of the state, and from 
other states, to lay him away for his final rest — was 
smiling through her tears, and bidding us to look be- 
yond the highest honors this world can give, to those 
greater rewards in reserve for the well doer here. This 
was the feeling at the time, and remarked by many, 
as they were engaged in the last solemn rites to the 
dead. It was a solemn day with all of us, the whole 
town was dressed in the deep habiliments of mourn- 
ing, the factories and all places of business were closed, 
all things wore an appearance of deep solemnity and 
mourning, save the smiling heavens above. 



Tuuvi, hoiias, iiomenque, laudesque, setnper, mane- 
hunt. — Virgil. 

" Your honors, your name and your praises shall 
remain forever." 



508 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 



JOHN ADAMS HALL. 



There has lived in our midst no man more deserv- 
ing of remembrance by those with whom lie was asso- 
ciated in his native town, than the late John Adams 
Hall. We say native town; — he was born in Wards- 
boro, Vt., December 27th, 1813, and was brought by 
his parents to the wilderness of Ellicott the following 
spring. His infancy was spent in an emigrant's home, 
and his earliest recollections were of that humble home 
in the wilderness. In a log school house in the forest 
was implanted in his mind the germs of that knowl- 
edge, which taking root, expanded and grew into so 
fair an educational tree, the fruits of which in afterlife 
he has so often presented to us. 

We approach the preparation of this memorial 
with a singular timidity, for John was among the first 
and most valued of our boyhood's associates, and that 
early friendship is one of a few that has come with us, 
under all the various circumstances of life, up to his 
death. Those ties of friendship, wrought in boyhood's 
days, have always refused to be broken. When he left 
home at the age of fifteen, and went to Warren as 
a clerk in his uncle's store, we made many a visit 
thither to see John Hall, and when he, twenty years 
later left the flourishing business he had there built 
up, and, actuated by filial duty, returned to the home 
of his childhood to assume the care of his aged and 
declining parents, no one rejoiced over that return 
more than ourself. And although for several years, 
those early ties seemed to be loosened — for we only 
occasionally met — yet when together, the bonds of that 
earl}^ friendship assumed their former strength, and if 
possible, bound us stronger than ever. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 509 

Up to the age of fifteen John's days were spent on 
his father's farm, and his education was that of the 
winter's school, taught in a log school house a mile 
distant from his father's home; the remainder of the year 
he was engaged in work on the farm, consequently his 
early school education was limited. Of a gentle and 
rather timid nature, he united with a remarkable quick- 
ness of apprehension, a love of books. In a person thus 
constituted such a love is equal to a liberal education, 
and so it proved with Hall. His education was largely 
gained by reading choice and well selected books, and 
in him it proved the most valuable education that he 
could have acquired. John A. Hall's character and 
deportment from youth up, never failed to commend 
itself, and to command the respect and approbation of 
all who came in personal and daily contact with him. 
We sincerely believe that his most controversial edi- 
torials, his most scathing articles on morals and on 
temperance and conduct ; the sarcastic sentences in 
his Paul Pry letters from Washington and elsewhere, 
and his failure to support the candidature of certain 
men for office, never made for him a pronounced en- 
em}^ — for they were written and prompted by the most 
generous sentiments, with no ill feeling towards indi- 
viduals, but with a tliorough hatred of vice and wrong 
methods and wrong doing. His enemies, we may sa}';, 
dreaded the lash, but bore no ill will to him who so 
thoroughly and correctly applied it, and no man had 
truer and more cordial friends and well-wishers in all 
sections of the country than he. No one was ever in- 
jured by an unkind word or deed of his. Mild and 
respectful in his intercourse with all whom he met — 
tolerant in his judgments — reasonable in his expecta- 
tions — easy to be pleased — patient and cheerful to wait 



510 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

the appointed time for his success — content to forego 
what was denied — he was not a person calcuhited to 
make enemies, but on the contrary, to win the good 
will and esteem of all. His enemies, if he had any, 
were those political shysters who could not bend him 
b}'' either money or influence, to their nefarious pur- 
poses. He loved his party, to which he was always 
true — but he loved truth and honesty far more. A 
rare serenity of mind endowed him richl}'- with that 
truest independence that can belong to man, and 
which to him, ever^^ one who ever knew him accords. 
Occupying a conspicuous and responsible station, in 
which an agitator would have found abundance of 
temptation and scope for turbulent activity and oppos- 
ing views, and which unavoidably, from the circum- 
stances of the times, invited harsh and determined 
assault, he knew how to be inflexibly true to obligations 
without losing his temj)er or even marring his good feel- 
ing. The candor of his mind was remarkable; he was 
willing to give error a fair show, for he trusted in the 
power of truth, and always believed that it would finally 
prevail. Who is there that will say that John A. Hall 
was unjust in an adverse statement, or ever knew him 
to sharpen an argument with a taunt? As the editor 
and conductor of a public journal he was signally the 
right man in the right place. The essential and spon- 
taneous uprightness of his understanding, gently in- 
fluenced his mind to the open and willing reception of 
all truth, and by a sort of insensible but irresistible 
contagion, inspired in him a true love for it. He was 
gentle, but of great firmness in counsel, and his action 
was marked by a steady tranquility of spirit. A truer 
man to stand courageously by what his cautious judg- 
ment had once approved as fit and right, never lived. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 511 

His i^reat faith in the final success of truth, what- 
ever its source, over falsehood and error, A'as the day 
star that guided and controlled all of his actions. It 
was always his working principle, and he constantly 
followed it in all the concerns of life. He never pa- 
raded his opinions when out of season, and never 
thrust them obtrusively forward. He had all the 
warmth and none of the blindness of enthusiasm ; he 
was founded in strong convictions and deep feeling, 
but guided by a sober judgment and a sterling com- 
mon sense. Always firm in his opinions, he was nev- 
ertheless timid, and more retiring and unassuming 
than timid, and for this reason, we imagine, never took 
that rank which his powers of mind and ability entitled 
him; and we do know tliat his great generosity and 
kindness of heart frequently prompted him to work 
for the advancement of others to the injury of his 
owm preferment. It was hard for him to withstand 
the entreaties of a friend when his own advancement 
was the main impediment in the way of a friend's ac- 
complishment of his desires. He never coveted office, 
and alwaj's placed others who did above himself, half 
believing that they were better qualified to fulfill its 
duties than himself. This was, we think, his weak- 
ness ; for he had abilities which would have placed 
him among the foremost in our state legislature, and 
would have shone in the halls of Congress. But the 
preferment of friends, guided by a modest estimate of 
his own powers, he could not master, and resulted in 
placing persons of less ability in stations he should 
have occupied. He never sought or asked for high 
station for himself, and was never envious of the suc- 
cess of others. 

John A. Hall's rule through life was to do well 



513 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

everj'thing he undertook; and he always hesitated at 
placing himself in situations in which his powers 
would be taxed in new and untried ways. For ourself we 
unhesitatingly say : that as a fully rounded man — by 
which we mean as a domestic man, as a son, as a hus- 
band and as a father — socially, as a neighbor, a citizen, 
as a member of society and of the state, — in morals, 
religion, and politics, he was, and is, our beau ideal of 
a perfect, "full-orbed " man. In all things he yiulded 
to his sense of what was just and right, and to the 
greatest public good. One writing of him at the time 
of his death speaks of him as the good man — as one 
who never did another a wrong intentionally— that he 
honored virtue and purit}^, and the trend of whose 
nature was constantly upward — that all of the rela- 
tions of his life were most admirable — and that his ex- 
ample should be constantly held up as worthy of men- 
tion. He was correct and prudent in his business 
habits, frank in utterance of opinions, and a supporter 
of all reforms the purpose of wliich was to improve 
the condition of society, or to meliorate the condition 
of man. One of Mr. Hall's prominent and most shin- 
ing virtues was his forgiving spirit. Forgiveness was 
never withheld from the person wlio had wronged 
him and asked to be forgiven — and the forgiveness 
accorded was full, hearty and without mental reserva- 
tions. On the contrary, if he had unintentionally in- 
jured any one he was not satisfied until he had most 
fully asked forgiveness for the fault. 

Dr. Townsend, in his funeral discourse, says: "He 
never carried bitterness in his heart; and when he had 
done wrong he was magnanimous enough to say, I 
have done wrong; I desire your forgiveness. In his 
religious beliefs Mr. Hall inclined to the sunny side of 



THE TOWX OF ELLICOTT. 513 

Christianity, and believed from his youth that there 
was an eternal hope for all mankind." 

It was a beautiful thing that the wife and mother, 
after so many years of faithful companionship, sur- 
rounded by all their children — save one who had gone 
before — were permitted to be present at the passing 
away of the husband and father. And among the 
many floral tributes that clustered about the casket in 
which he was laid, was one of most touching beauty 
and expressiveness. At the head was a pillow of rare 
white flowers with " FATHER " in purple immortelles 
across the center. How sweet the thought of passing 
to one's final rest in the midst of such a display of 
filial affection. 

AVhat was written by Mr. Shankland of the 
Jamestown Standard, at the time of his death, so ac- 
cords with our own views, and is so much better ex- 
pressed than we can do it ourself, that we transcribe 
what he wrote here. It is a beautiful, truthful and 
deserved tribute: 

"The qualities of Mr. Hall were of a kind to read- 
ily inspire friendship, particularly so among those who 
were anyway intimately associated with him. His 
nature was in ever}'- sense kindly, and generous, and 
it was easy for his S3anpathy to be aroused and to lean 
out with warmth of expression towards those who were 
depressed by misfortune or grief. It was one of his 
strong characteristics that no rival jealousies ever 
sway^ed him. He was pleased with the success of 
others, and enjoyed their well doing. His feelings 
were based on the golden maxim of doing and acting 
' unto others as he would have them do unto him. 
His heart was expansive and broad in all the kindly 
emotions towards his fellow man, and his faith was 



614 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

large in the uprightness and stability of humanity. 
He believed that the good predominated largely over 
the bad in mankind, and he never was disturbed by 
imaginary fears, nor the croakings of others. His 
temperament was of the sanguine order, and he was 
easily moved to enthusiasm. This characteristic was 
no more conspicuously displayed than in the warmth 
of his friendship towards those of his chosen circle of 
intimates and old acquaintances and neighbors, and 
gave life and feeling to any cause that he espoused, 
making him a genial and entertaining compariion, 
Mr. Hall was a man of strong and well guided emo- 
tion, which at times, perhaps, reflected qualities which 
gave a force and strength to his action and opinions, 
but he was sensitive and careful not to intrude by 
unjust or ungenerous conduct on others. As a neigh- 
bor and citizen he was considerate and obliging, and 
his genial, frank and modest demeanor inspired re- 
spect and commanded friendship. He was liberal and 
generous in his views, intelligent and entertaining in 
his conversation, and thoroughly democratic in the 
simplicity of his habits and manner. These were 
gifted qualities to make friends, which were aided by 
the glowing warmth of his nature. In the family 
circle he w^as the affectionate and kindly husband and 
father, and in the community he was progressive, en- 
terprising and thoroughly loyal to its best interests." 

The Dansville Advertiser says of him: " A man of 
pure and noble nature, of quiet, simple habits and retir- 
ing nature, comparativel}^ few knew the worth of the 
man, and these he drew towards him as the magnet 
draws the steel. To us his death seems like the death 
of a member of our own family. He led an honorable, 
useful and successful life, in the highest sense of those 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 515 

terms ; honest, courageous, pure-liearted, he lived fo 
the betterment of his kind." 

The Elmira Advertiser speaks of him in these 
words : "■ Western New York has met with an irrepar- 
able loss in the death of John Adams Hall, editor of 
the Jamestown Journal. At the age of seventy-two 
years this earnest-minded, upright and exemplary 
man, this able, conscientious journalist, this model hus- 
band and father has gone to his rest and reward. His 
name is honored wherever it is known, and the good 
example of his life is emphasized to all who saw its 
purity and strength, in the peace and resignation of his 
Christian death." 

From many different sources we might select 
mentions of John A. Hall in similar language. As a 
farmer, as a merchant, as a man of business, as a jour- 
nalist, and as a public servant, there is nothing to be 
said of him but the highest praise. In this memoir it 
has been our attempt not to speak of him as a man of 
business, but as a private citizen and as a member of 
societv ; for trulv it mav be said, he adorned private 
life. 

In March, 1835, John Adams Hall was married to 
Emil\^ Perry, who survives him. 

To John A. and Emily (Perr}') Hall were born 
seven children, all now living but Henri, who died 
after attaining adult age. The names of the children 
were as follows : Marian, Ann Eliza, Edward L., 
Henri, John A., Irene A, Fred P. 

On the evening of the 29th of January, 1886, 
peacefully and without pain, John Adams Hall, in 
the evening of a long life, surrounded by his family, 
passed from earth and entered upon eternal rest. In 
the full sense of the words he was the 

MODEL CITIZEN AND TRUE FRIEND. 



516 THE EAKLY HISTOKY OF 



THOMAS W. HARVEY. 

At the time we wrote our chapter VI, in which is 
mentioned the early bhicksmiths and other artisans of 
the country, we were laboring under the erroneous im- 
pression that there was no one of the Harvey family 
living. We were informed immediately afterward that 
Hayward A. Harvey was not only living, but also a 
man of importance in New York; that as an inventor 
he had a reputation as world-wide as his father, the 
General. That his residence was in Orange, N. J., and 
that lie was President of the Harvey Steel Works in 
Wall Street, New York City. We sent him a few pages 
of Chapter VI, which elicited a reply in which he 
stated that he well remembered the persons, and many 
of the transactions therein mentioned. That they had 
served to bring back vividly to his memory happy 
days of boyhood, when he was one of the Jamestown 
boys and his father was the village blacksmith. He 
also expressed his regret that we did not know more 
of his father after he left Jamestown; spoke of his own 
numerous inventions, and concluded by saying there 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 517 

were errors, which would not effect the value of our 
work, but which he thought it would be well to correct 
if not too late. We wrote to him immediately that the 
work was too far advanced to obtain from him the 
necessary data and put them in shape for publication, 
that within ten days, at the farthest, all would be in 
type, but desired him to send the corrections he had 
mentioned The letter herewith published, received 
last evening, was the reply. 

What we here write can scarcely be called a me- 
morial, but we desire to add a few more words to what 
we have already written of Thomas W. Harvey, and 
must place it here, or exclude what we wish to add, 
altogether. We desire to bring into our memory once 
more — the General, Aunt Melinda, and their children, 
as we remember them and so frequently saw them in 
the long ago, in that old house, which was their home 
for more than twenty years. That old house is most 
indelibly painted on our memory. The General built 
it himself, with the royal assistance of Eoyal Keyes. 
Old Father Hart put up that monstrous stack of chim- 
ney in the center, wath those two immense fire places, 
the one looking north into the living room, and the other 
south into the sjyare room; the unplaned clapboards 
painted by the hand of time a dark brown, slightly 
streaked in places with a lighter color; the windows, 
of the then orthodox size and shape, with two sash to 
each opening and each opening containing twenty-five 
panes of 7x9 rainhuio glass, not one more or less. We 
well remember those two blocks on which was a piece 
of plank for door step, the large heavy front door, a 
compromise between a panel and a batten, and that 
heavy fiinc}^ door handle of Harvey's own make — the 
door opening against Hart's stack of chimney — turning 



518 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

north we gained the living room — turning south we 
entered the spare room — which was seldom used un- 
less some visitor occupied the spare bed surrounded by- 
curtains, which stood in one corner. 

In those days door handles were of all possible 
sizes and shapes for outside doors, and were manufac- 
tured for the most part by our own village black- 
smiths ; but to our liking some of the handsomest 
were the work of the carpenter. Knobs of what we 
now term porcelain were then unknown. We do re- 
member in primitive Jamestown one door knob, that 
was a small brass affair, and but few knew how toman" 
ipulate it — whether to tvnst^ push ov pall, and was a 
great vexation to people in those days, when you en- 
tered a man's house by the command from within 
"come in;" so much so that the owner was known as 
"the man who lived in a house with a knob on the 
door." AVe remember Gen, Harvey's house perfectly, 
but we cannot realize, what is certainly true, that the 
grade at the crossing of Pine and Third streets is now 
twenty feet or more lower than it was then. At that 
time the boys could slide down hill both ways on 
Third street from Pine, which then was a ridge, divid- 
ing the town into an east and west portion. 

General Harvey took great pride in militar}^ mat- 
ters. He was a proud appearing officer, and always 
perfectly dressed for the particular post he occupied. 
Nevertheless, as a military officer we believe he was 
fully equalled by his brother, Col. Charles R. Harvey. 

It was our intention to add a chapter on our early 
militia trainings, but found that our space would not 
permit. It then was but a short time after the closing 
of the war of 1812, and the military spirit ran high. 
Thomas W, Harvev, soon after he came to Jamestown, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 519 

organized what was known as the Green Rifles, be- 
cause of the color of the dress — which was a sort of 
frock made of a coarse, soft kind of green flannel. The 
frock reaching to the knee — with pants or leggins to 
match, and these bordered with a short, thick, black 
fringe — wide black belt with large silver clasp in front, 
containing bullet pouch, tomahawk and scalpnig 
knife — ver}^ large powder horns, attached by red cord, 
which slung the horn on the right side — hard wool 
hats with narrow brim, large brass plate in front and 
tall, heavy red plumes. As wine would tioiv express 
themselves, they did look '■\jiist ,sj)leii(Ie<?,''^ " too siveet 
for anything.'''' Harvey took great pains in drilling and 
disciplining this company of savages. We well re- 
member when the boys on training day morning 
would watch near the house for Captain Harvey's ap- 
pearance, and when he came out would shout, " There 
comes Captain Harvey." Before he had reached Pot- 
ter's Alley there would be a salute from a drum corps 
down at Allen's tavern, and where you could not see a 
green uniform one minute previous, you would see a 
hundred savages, brandishing their tomahawks and 
giving the characteristic whoop — and before the drum 
corps could march three rods to their place on Third 
street east of Main, every member of that company 
would be in their proper places in line. It was a proud 
compan}^; they had a proud Captain, but neither the 
Captain or the company were half as proud as those 
early citizens of Jamestown who watched their move- 
ments. After Harvey left the company it began 
slowly to lose in discipline, and when the old military 
organization a dozen years later gave place to the new, 
it was in the last agonies of dissolution. 

And we remember that wonderful sham fight on 



520 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

"General Muster Day," up am 01:1 jo- the logs and bushes 
where Frank E. Gifford's residence now stands, and 
where Capt. J. E. Budlong with his "Infantry," and 
the '^ Floodwood ^'' under Capt. Ellick Jones, whipped 
the Indians and took Old Tecumseh (Capt. Harvey) 
prisoner, and marched him back across the "■fiaV^ and 
over the Iridge and up Main sti'ett — the Green Rifles 
following, whooping ajul yelling and firing their guns 
and brandishing their tomahawks, as if they were de- 
termined to rescue their chief — and we were in hopes 
they would — but that was not a part of the " shamy 



To Thomas W. and Melinda (Hayward) Harvey,* 
were born five children. There may have been others 
who died in infancy — we are not informed — but these 
the GeneraH//r/^e^/ r^/f' with him when he removed to 
New York. 

1. Artemesia — who about the time of the re- 
moval became the wife of Rev. Amos P. Hawley, the 
eldest son of Alpheus and Keziah (Berry) Hawley. 

2. Vespasian. — Our old li-iend, Hayward, must 
excuse us for here giving an anecdote of his father — 
we have the opportunity, and as is usual with us, we 
cannot forego the pleasure of resuscitating those inci- 
dents which it would, perhaps, be better to forget. Gen. 
Harvey was among the earliest members of the Con- 
gregational church. At the time under review, good 
old Father Spencer feared the General was using more 
of the goods manufactured at our then flourishing 

* See note on page 148. 

Mrs. Thomas W. Harvey belonged to the Vermont family. She 
was a sister of Mis. SolomoB Jones. Many yfars afterwards Keziah 
(Berry) Hawley became the second wife of Gen. Harvey. 



THE TOWiT OF ELLICOTT. 521 

^^ stiir'' than was for his welfare, and had cautioned 
him on the subject. He feai'ed that Brother Harvey, 
if lie had not then, would soon wander from the fold, 
and as he was sent into the wilderness as a shepherd 
to look after wandering sheep, he considered it was his 
dut}' to caution him. He was afraid he was getting 
more spiritual consolation from the cam field Xhfxw 
from the old Academy ; that the worm of the stdl was 
drowning the stUl small voice, etc. Harvej^'s answers 
were evasive, and not up to Father Spencer's theology. 
Spencer was quick witted, and was as noted for his 
waggish and sharp reproofs as for his earnest, faithful 
preaching, and as an old Revolutionary officer, was 
more of a general than the General himself. In due 
time Harvey and his wife presented their infant son 
for baptism, Spencer asks, " What name do you give 
this child ?" The answer was, " Vespasian." " Dissi- 
pation, Dissipation ?" " No, Vespasian," says the 
General, with a little more voice, getting red in the 
face. " Dissipation, I bap — " "No, no — Vespasian, I 
tell you," roars the General, in his deep, bass voice, a 
streak of mad at the same time running through the 
deep red of his face. The child was "baptized Vespa- 
sian; Father Spencer all the time well knowing what 
the name was. As soon as the services were closed, 
Spencer quickly disappeared, mounted his horse, and 
was not seen until his next quarterly visit. To cap 
all, the sermon Spencer had selected to be read on the 
next Sunday morning, was on the great virtue and re- 
wards of temperance, and Deacon Deland called upon 
Gen. Harvey to read it. He came forward and read 
the sermon, not knowing the subject. The General at 
that time was the favorite sermon reader; his deep, 
strong, bass voice filled the old Academy, and every 



522 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

one was pleased when he was called upon to read. 
Those who heard that sermon read were accustomed 
to say that Harvey never read so well in his life ; it 
seemed as if every word of it came direct from his 
heart, and it reached the hearts of those who listened. 
General Harvey never entered that Distillery after- 
wards but once, then officially as coroner.* 

3. Hayward a., — the third child, was one of our 
bright, active, mischief-loving boys of the early days 
— when Jamestown was a boy's paradise. He must 
have sadly missed the old haunts for years after leav- 
ing them. We have not seen him since the spring of 
1842. He was then treading in his father's footsteps,, 
and noM' is the father of eighty important inventions 
(patented) of his own, in this country, and twenty of 
world-wide reputation, for which he has patents re- 
corded in Europe. 

We received a few days ago the photograph of an 
elderly, white whiskered, bald headed, quite good look- 
ing personage, sent as that of Hayward A. Harvey. 
We know we are growing old — but to pass that old 
man upon us as the true likeness to-day of the boy who 
knew every crook and turn of Jamestown streets when 
he was fifteen years old — don't work with us — it is un- 
satisfactory, and we have laid it aM'ay to take its place 
in our album of the early inhabitants ef Jamestown — 
to be deposited with the Historical Society for future 
reference. 

In compiling this history of the early days of EUi- 
cott we have most assuredly learned this — that many 
years ago, if not now, Jamestown was a great place 
to be born in, if not to live in. The number of full- 

* See page 230. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 523 

sized, full brained, useful and eminent men that were 
born and have gone forth from Jamestown and vicin- 
tiy is something wonderful. They are witnesses for 
w'hat we have contended for all through this volume, 
that Chautauqua county was peopled in a ver}^ differ- 
ent manner from what most new countries are. Our 
contention has been, that the first settlers of Chautau- 
qua, for the most part, were the best members of the 
best families^ — the descendants of the Pilgrims of New 
England and the Dutch families who peopled the val- 
ley of the Hudson. They were the sons and daughters 
who claim tiie nobility of having descended from the 
first — the Pilgrim Fathers to the northern portion of 
these United States. 

4. Olive — Was but a child when her parents re- 
moved from Jamestown. In 1841 we were for several 
months an inmate of General Harvey's house in New 
York. Olive was then just blooming into womanhood. 
The most beautiful, the most accomplished, the most 
noble girl we ever knew^;- — but the destroyer had set 
his seal; and a few years later she went home. 

5. Charlotte. — We feel positive this w^as the 
name. A very young child wdien her parents left 
Jamestowm. We know^ nothing of her history. 



Harvey Steel Company, 
New York, Feb. 2, 1887. 

Dr. G. W. Hazeltine, Dear Sir : — I thank you 
for your pleasant mention of my father, the late Gen. 
Thomas W. Harve}^, who spent the early days of his 
life in your town, and in which I was born. My early 
recollections are of Jamestowai, and you mention many 



534 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

occurrences in your book that come up as old memo- 
ries and old acquaintances in my mind. I most sin- 
cerely regret that you did not know more of his great 
labors in later years. In addition to his machines for 
making screws and pins, he invented a number of im- 
portant and now indispensable machines that are used 
the world over. In truth there is no man who has 
originated more useful machinery than he, and his 
reputation has become world wide. 

His electric Motors were not quite the failure you 
represent; he lived to astonish New York by putting 
in motion an amount of machiner}^ requiring a heavy 
steam engine to run it. He lived to demonstrate the 
feasibility of Electricity as a motive power. 

Mrs. Hawley became my father's second wife. She 
died, as you state, from injuries received at Norwalk, 
May 11th, 1853. My father married for his third wife 
Miss Sarah L. Cowles, of Connecticut. 

My father died June 5th, 1854. His widow is still 
living. Very truly yours, 

Hayward a. Harvey, 

Harvev Steel Works, 52 Wall St. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 525 



ALEXANDER THOMPSON PRENDERGAST. 

Alexander Thompson Prendergast, the only child 
of James and Agnes (Thompson) Prendergast, was born 
in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., February 3d, 1809, 
and died suddenly from apoplexy at his home in James- 
town, August 1st, 1SS5. His only son died before him. 
He was the last of his family. With him the family of 
James Prendergast, the founder of Jamestown, be- 
comes extinct. He was the worthy son of a most noble 
parentage. He was a man of rare intelligence, sound 
judgment, unbounded generosity, and unswerving in- 
tegrity. 



What is Goodness ? We may not be able to men- 
tion all of those attributes of the human soul which 
enter in to the make up of the truly good man ; and 
if we have ever been fortunate enough to know such 
a man, our description must always fall far short of 
our estimate of him. We can never paint sucli a char- 
acter, and then looking at it say it is the true image of 
the good man; there will be imperfections not seen in 
the original. We do not urge that Alexander T. 
Prendergast was perfect, without fault or blemish, but 
we do know that goodness was his great, overwhelming 
characteristic, which stood forth prominent and fore- 
most among his many noble traits and virtues ; — the 
prominent features of his mind may after a time be 
forgotten — but those of his heart will live forever. If 
we should attempt to point out any weakness or blem- 
ish in his character, as exemplified by his life, it would 
not militate against the perfectness of his goodness 
and we shall not attempt to describe that of which the 



536 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

world sees too little — to write a full description. Never- 
theless, he was in the highest, best sense of the words, 
" A GOOD MAN." He represented a class of men of whom 
there are few, indeed, in this world, on whom all eulogy 
is lost. A class, of whom the mere record of their good 
and generous deeds is far superior to the highest eulogy 
— and of whom the record is impossible, for good deeds 
were their constant, daily life. Of such men all writ- 
ten memorials are tame and unsatisfactory to those 
who were witnesses of the noble lives they lived and 
of the generous deeds they performed. After reading 
the most carefully prepared memorial of Alexander T. 
Prendergast, there will arise in the minds of those in- 
timately acquainted with him the feeling that full 
justice has not been done to hismemorj^ ; that there is 
something that should have been said that has been 
omitted; something that should have been written that 
has not been; — forgetful that the good deeds of such 
men fill their whole lives, and that a few short sen- 
tences cover the actions of the whole life. There is 
nothing more difficult than to prepare a fitting remem- 
brance of the truly good man, of one who loved 
his neighbor as himself, of one in whom there was no 
guile; — of one in whose whole life there were no dark 
streaks of envy, malice, or uncharitableness, or wrong 
doing, to serve as a sombre back ground to the truthful 
picture you may draw of a pure and useful life. The 
contrasts of light and shade are wanting. 

Alexander T. Prendergast was a man of superior 
intellectual gifts and strong reasoning powers. His 
reasoning was largely from cause to efifect— this was a 
mental characteristic of the family; — he was not apt in 
dealing with comparisons, and his judgment was sel- 
dom at fault, only when he desired to do some great 



THE TOWK OF ELLICOTT. 537 

good to some unworthy recipient of his charity. In 
such cases he would compare the seemingly needy con- 
dition of the unworthy and in every way bad character 
of the person seeking his aid, with his own superior 
condition and ability to relieve, and thus be led to give 
to persons the most debased and profligate. 

He was brought up at the feet of his pure minded, 
gifted mother. He received a plain but thorough ed- 
ucation in everything useful, and was well prepared to 
enter college. In addition he was well, versed in the 
political and economic history of the country. Brought 
into the wilderness when a cliild, his whole education 
was received at home, but his watchful father was 
careful that he should be instructed by the most com- 
petent of teachers. Being an only child his parents 
were willing to take sole charge of his moral and social 
training, and to direct as to his mental culture, and 
they discharged these duties with the utmost faithful- 
ness. He received a few months instruction'as a child 
from the Rev. Amasa West, who taught the first school 
at the rapids; and he was for three terms a pupil in 
the Prendergast Academy, two under Abner Hazeltine 
and one under the Rev. Phillip Smith. For something 
more than six 3'ears his education was in charge of Dr. 
Laban Hazeltine, who was to him a most thorough 
and pains-taking preceptor. He was thoroughly pre- 
pared, and expected to enter Union College in 1824 
during the sixteenth year of his age. When the time 
came for his leaving home, it vas found that the father, 
the mother and the son, were mutually opposed to the 
separation, and the idea of a college education was 
abandoned. The mother declared the son should re- 
main and assist his father, and that the cotton ftictory 
(1823) had just been converted into a grist mill and 



528 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

they had no money with which to defray the expense, 
and if they had she was of the opinion that another 
year or two with Doctor Hazehine was to be preferred 
to four years in a college, when the danger of contract- 
ing bad habits was considered. During the next year 
he pursued a course of reading in Mental Philosophy 
and Pliysiology, reading thoroughly the works of 
Locke, Reid and Dugald Stuart in Philosophy, and 
Haller and Darwin on Physiology. It may be said 
that his scholastic course closed with the burning of 
the mills in 1827. An affectionate regard sprang up 
between the teacher and his pupil, which was broken 
only by death. Living at home as he did during the 
whole period of his education, he wasconstantl}^ under 
the watchful supervision of his parents, who most 
thoroughly supplemented his mental progress by the 
moral and social inspiration of their own noble char- 
acters. They inspired in him those generous and 
manly actions of which he gave subsequently so mem- 
orable an example. His father was a man of strong- 
intellect, rigidly correct principles, — generous, but 
always standing for the right. His mother was a 
gifted, noble woman, with a highly cultivated mind 
acting on an organization in which all the higher feel- 
ings predominated. It was under these favoring cir- 
cumstances that Alexander received his superior edu- 
cation, 

Alexander T. Prendergast not only inherited the 
noble qualities of his parents, but in early life was 
called upon under his father's training, to practice all 
the generous qualities which should be, and were, his 
by heritage. His father had always stood a self-con- 
stituted guardian bet weed the pioneers and much of 
the distress inevitable to the privations and hardships 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 529 

of settling a new country. There were two memorable 
instances, at least, in which he tided the early settlers 
over periods of impending- famine and financial dis- 
tress, and that, too, when his own possible financial 
ruin was staring him in the face. The first lesson he 
taught his son was '•'•never to collect a deht from a jjoor 
mdii, and to ahnays help the veedy^ That in all in- 
stances '■'?V n'ds hetter to give a man. money instead of 
collecting a deht from, hiin if needy T Another rule was 
that ^'•no man otced him. when it iV'is easie?' for hiin. to 
go inithout the money than for his 2>^or neighbor to pay 
it.'''' No one can be found, or could be found, who 
ever knew either the father or the son, to go contrary 
to these their golden rules. 

Soon after James Prendergast sold his prop- 
erty in Jamestown, in company with his son he 
looked over a laige bundle of notes and obliga- 
tions, and separated them into two portions. One 
of the piles represented over .flO,000^ — the other 
far less. Tlie Judge says '' Alexander, here are 
over §10,000 in notes, mostly collectible, but we can 
get along witliout the money, and it will be hard for 
most of these men to pay; I propose we burn them up, 
we will enjoy it much more than the collecting of 
them." "I think so too, father, and if you say so we 
will see them blaze now." They were placed on the 
fire, and in a moment were gone. An approving 
smile on the father's face and the simple remark, "You 
have made a good many men happy, Alexander," was 
all that was said. 

Alexander T. Pi-endergast was one of the most 
affectionate of sons, one of the most noble of youthful 
companions, and one of the truest of friends. It is 
true he had but two or three youthful companions, and 



530 THE EMILY HISTORY OP 

they were somcwliat older than himself. It should be 
borne in mind that there were not half a dozen of his 
own age in the earh^ daysof Jamestown, and the}' were 
not fit companions for a boy entertaining the high 
ideas that he entertained. It used to be said of him 
that his greatest enjoyment consisted in taking a stroll 
through the woods, with or riding heJiind Dr. Hazel- 
tine on his old horse Charly when visiting his pa- 
tients; that he prefen-ed these excursions to going a 
fishing, and that he never had shot a gun in his life. 
The boys younger, among whom we unhappily must 
number ourself, gave him the nick name of "Charly's 
Hitcljing Post,"" it being his custom 1o hold the liorse 
during the time the Docter was visiting his patient. 
We can again vouch that boys have a terrible aversion 
to nick names^ — for many the time have we seen Alex- 
ander leaving his persecutors without deigning a 
reply, and going home, with the tears streaming down 
his face. And wo well i-emember a small l)oy, who, 
seeing Alexander passing one day, screamed out 
" Ch<irbji< Jlitchiiig l^id,'" who was saved a flogging 
by Alexander's prompt interference vvitli the father, 
and we are positive that that boy never applied that 
nick name afterwards. We can now remember a 
■dozen poor children who, if living to day, would bless 
the memory of Alexander T. Prendergast; — and one in 
particular, who appeared before our father's house one 
cold day, barefoot and with neither coat or jacket. 
Alexander, who was passing, took the boy home with 
him, and soon he was seen returning with shoes and 
stockings on his feet, and with warm clothing.* A 

* Such families are found in ail towns, both new and old. The 
presence of two or three families of this kind, in the earlj' days of 
Jamesiown, iindoubtedly aided in originating the idea that James- 
town was settled by a rough set of inhabitants. Families of this 
.tramp species are found everywhere. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 531 

man named Scovill, with a half dozen or more rai2:ged 
children, had come to town — how no one knew — had 
driven the the hogs out of the Blowers s-lab shanty, 
{spoken of on pages o9 and 210) and taken possession. 
That Alexander made one of those boys happy we had 
the evidence of our own eyes. Aunt Nancy was busy 
the next day with the remainder of the family, and 
before night the Judge had them comfortably housed in 
the rooms that had once been his own home on Cherry 
street. We could relate a large numl)er of similar 
happenings, but this we beheld with our own eyes, and 
had its origin as we have stated. In those early days, 
any person who had Alexander for a friend was sure 
not to suffer, for invariably he had Uncle James and 
Aunt Nancy for backers. We ask the few^ old settlers, 
and those of our own age still living, who were Ijoys 
and girls at the time of which we are speaking, how 
many times, on some cold, dreary day, they have seen 
Alexander looking into the habitations of the poor and 
the needy; how many of lnf< orders on the mill for flour 
.and meal they have seen; and how many little pack- 
ets of tea (1-4 lb.) they have known of his leaving with 
those too poor to buy so costly a luxury. His private 
-account at Prendei'gast's store at one time, for tea 
alone, was nearly two hundred dollars, tiic price of tea 
xit that time being from two to three dollars per pound. 

In after life, Alexander T. Trendergast was the 
exemplar of the loving and faitliful liusband, of the 
affectionate father, of the kind and helping neighbor, 
■of the good and patriotic citizen, of charity towards 
every human being, and kindness towards all of God's 
creatures. 

He was, during his whole life, a diligent laborej-, 
believing that it was every man's duty to earn his 



533 THE EARLY HISTOKY OF 

daily bread by the sweat of his brow, and that idleness 
was the fruitful parent of misery and wrong doing. 
From childhood he honored his father and his mother, 
and loved his neighbor as himself He fed the hungry, 
clothed the naked, and housed the needy and unfor- 
tunate; he visited the sick and the decrepit and min- 
istered to their wants and necessities. He was pure in 
heart and in mind, never puffed up by the vanity of 
riches or by the extent and value of his possessions. 
He was always more read}^ to relieve the wants and dis- 
tress of the sick and needy, than to join in the joys and 
pleasures of those who had been more fortunate in life. 

In addition to all the other sterling, good traits 
of character and good qualities, Alexander T. Pren- 
dergast was one of the most patriotic men of patriotic 
Chautauqua county. He contributed his thousands to 
the country's defense. He gave to every soldier from 
Kiantone one hundred dollars as soon as enlisted. 
Some curious anecdotes of greed in high places might 
be told as happening during those stirring times of en- 
listments; suffice it to say, that a few unpatriotic — 
although passing as patriots — were in those days to 
be found even in Old Chautauqua. The country was 
saved, and home wrongs should be forgotten and for- 
giveji by us as they were by Alexander T. Prendergast. 

Gooi)Np:ss was the great, prominent, all-ruling 
characteristic bequeathed to Alexander T. Prender- 
gast by his noble mother. He mherited his father's 
superior intellect and his mother's great heart and 
pure soul. Of his ancestry we have spoken in the first 
chapter of this volume. The Prendergasts were a 
peculiar family of men; — strong minds, sent forth in 
stout bodies, well fitted to be the leaders and rulers of 
men. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 533 

Every word we have written of Alexander Thomp- 
son Prendergast is strictly true, as every fair minded, 
honest man, who was intimately acquainted with him, 
will testify. Our picture of this truly great and good 
man is finished; — great because he was good. 

Alexander T. Prendergast was one of those men 
whose very existence was a blessing to his race. The 
lives of such men are not only a heritage to the com- 
munities in which they lived, but to the country at 
large and to the world. Such men manifest the gran- 
deur of moral power, by showing in themselves the 
highest moral advancement of the human race. They 
have lingered on the extreme verge of moral power, 
and have set up their monumental pillars and trophies 
on the uttermost limit of human vn*tue and charity. 
That heavenly virtue charity, seemingly so difficult to 
follow, to any great amelioration of the condition of 
our fellow beings, was a virtue niherent in his soul — 
and founded on his deep, abiding goodness. 



In April, 1847, Alexander T. Prendergast was 
married to Mary, the daughter of Thomas and Anna 
(Patterson) Norton, of Westfield, representatives of two 
of the old families of the cross roads. Mr. Norton was 
the first cabinet maker, and afterwards started the first 
grocery store in Westfield, but he was by nature a stu- 
dent and an artist, and had received a thorough scho- 
lastic education, and his leisure hours were spent in 
more congenial pursuits. He was a great student, 
especially in theology, and became a noted expounder 
of the bible and its doctrines ; he had a natural bent 
and inclination for scripture exegesis and for deep bib- 
lical studies. Mary inherited the literary and artistic 
tastes of her father, and her passionate love for fiowers 



534 THE EARLY HISTOUY OF 

we never knew equalled, but b}' one, our own sainted 
mother. Alexander's large but plainly furnished house 
on the Kiantone was soon converted into bowers of 
beauty and fragrant loveliness, and happiness reigned 
in and over all. 

To Alexander and Mary (Norton) Prendergast 
were born two children. James was born June 18th,. 
1848, and died December 21st, 1879 ; of him we shall 
speak hereafter. 

Catherine (Kittie) Prendergast was born April 
2d, 1854, and she died at Marquette, Michigan, August 
2d, 1864. Kittie was a most exquisite!}^ beautiful 
child. She died when but little more thaji ten years 
old, but her mind was so mature that she was no com- 
panion for children of that age. In intellectuality she 
would grace an}'^ circle of more than twice those years. 
She was a great reader of books, and of books of that 
high intellectual standing that would fail to interest 
children of iier own age. A knowledge of high char- 
acter seemed to be intuitive with her, and she would 
converse with remarkable earnestness, knowledge and 
good taste on subjects that her elders were scarcely 
acquainted with. She was of a cheerful, lively tem- 
perament, or, as Coleman E. Bishop expresses it, "She 
was a ray of light and warmth in every heart upon 
which she beamed." Shall we say that Kittie Pren- 
dergast was too beautiful, too bright, with ideas too 
noble, too advanced, for a life on this earth? Oh, no ; 
that would not be the true explanation, for a few thus 
gifted have been permitted to live long, happy, useful 
lives with us, and it would be a reflection upon the 
goodness of the All-Father. But we are forced tO' 
admit that such precocious minds too frequently come 
to us in bodies too frail to stand the wear and tear of 



THE TOWN OF KLIJCOTT. 535 

a life here. And yet this was not the case with Kittie. 
She had a good constitution and was filled with good 
health, although of that delicate make up Avhich is a 
constituent of beauty of body and precocity of mind. 
The natural laws are as unbending as any of that great 
code whicli the Almighty has given for our earthly 
guidance. The other world which Kittie so highly 
adorns will afford us good reasons for God's mysterious 
providences, without our reflecting on His goodness to 
us here below. 

It is not often that parents are as devoted to the 
welfare of tlieir cliildren as were Alexander and Mary 
Prendergast to theirs — but they are gone, and Alexan- 
der has followed. Mary only remains, a lonely watclier 
amonof tho tombstones. 



Many were the hearts that aclied when the words 
were passed from mouth to mouth in our streets, 
" Alexander Prendergast is dead," many were the tears 
of sincere grief, of deep sorrow then shed. We met a 
man on one of our streets that day, one not noted for 
his goodness, and but little respected by his neighbors, 
weeping as if his heart would break. " Why do you 
cry?" we asked. "M}' only friend is gone; Alexander 
T. Prendergast is dead." "Was he your friend?" 
"Yes, he was my friend; he was everybody's friend. 
He gave everybody money, clothes and bread when 
they needed. It is not because I shall get no more 
assistance from him that I cry, but it is because I think 
* HOW GOOD HE WAS.' If you cvcr write anything about 
Alexander T. Prendergast say he was 'a good man.'" 
The appearance of that miserable man, and the 
earnestness with which he spoke, made an impression 
upon us, which will always remain bright in our mem- 



536 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

cry. We shall never forget it, and when we remember 
the one we think of the other. There is a tender place 
in our own heart for that miserable, degraded man, 
and w'e feel that we would give a world to have him 
sa^' of us from the depths of his heart, as he then said 
of Alexander T. Prendergast, 

HE WAS A GOOD MAN. 



JAMES PRENDERGAST, Jr. 

James Prendergast was the only grandson of 
James and Agnes (Thompson) Prendergast, and the 
only son of Alexander and Mary (Norton) Prendergast. 
He was born in Kiantone, Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
June 18th, 1848, and died in Buflalo, December 21st, 
1879. 

Spirit ! thy labor is o'er ! 
Thy term of probation is run. 
Thy steps are now bound lor the untrodden i-hore 
And the race of immortals begun. 

Spirit ! look not on the strife 
Or the pleasures of earth with regret — 
Pause not on the threshhold of limitless life, 
To mourn for the day that is set. 

Spirit ! no fetters can bind, 
No wicked have power to molest ; 
There the weary, like the — the wretched, shall find 
A haven — a mansion of rest. 
Spirit ! how bright is the road 
For which thou art now on the wing ! 
Thy home is with him — thy Saviour and God 
There — loud hallellujahs to sing. 

— Mozart's Requiem. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 537 

James Prendergast passed from life in the prime 
•of manhood, breaking the last worldly ties that bound 
his parents to earth. In his death the bright anticipa- 
tions of the citizens of Jamestown — of a city, founded 
by the grandfather — carefully cherished by the father — 
and which had become the especial care of the son — 
were quickly blasted. There are misfortunes which over- 
take towns as well as families, that we have no right 
to attribute to the will of Heaven. James Prender- 
gast passed away from earth in the prime of his man- 
hood and in robust health. That he should lose his 
life from a surgical operation for a trivial ailment, from 
which a fatal termination should be no more looked 
for than from the pulling of a tooth, is a sad reflection 
upon surgical ability. One of those unaccountable 
accidents so frequently taking place, robbed us of one 
of our most prominent and most important citizens. 
We bow reluctantly to the Ji at oi fate, for with him a 
noble family has ceased to exist; — a line, bearing Na- 
ture's stamp of nobility has disappeared, arid forever. 
Earthly ties have been forever broken — earMily hopes 
forever destroyed. But Shakspeare speaks truly when 
he says, 

"The gi-ave's the pulpit of departed man, 

From it he speaks" — 
The great fountain of human character lies beyond 
the limits of mortal life, where human passions cannot 
invade. It is there that the spirits of all ages, after 
their sun is set, are gathered into one firmament, to 
shed their unquenchable light upon us. It is in the 
great assembly of those who have gone, that great and 
gifted souls — the philosopher, the lover of his country 
and his kind — complete their benefactions to man- 
kind, by beco ming imperishable exemplars of goodness 



538 , THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

and of virtue. Therefore, we is^rieve not at the depar- 
ture of tlie young or of the eminently wise and good. 
Tney cease to walk with us the weary days of earthly 
life — but all they desired to accomplish they leave with 
us, a rich inheritance, and their good works go on — 
although the}' have been permitted to enter into rest a 
few short years before us. 

His sudden and unexpected death came upon us 
mournfully and sadly, but it is not for these reasons 
we so deeply deplore his loss, but because of what he 
was, in and of himself. Most strictly true was that sen- 
tence in the Rev. Mr. Burford's discourse, at his fune- 
ral, which reads in these words. " The solemn re- 
quiem bell had scarce ceased to toll for a Nestor* of 
good men, ere another dirge arose, unexpectedly, from 
the stricken hearts of old and young, rich and poor, in 
this county and city — when the lightning flashed upon 
us the sad intelligence of the death of JAMES PREN- 
DERGAST— the knightly gentleman, the faithful 
friend, the affectionate and obedient son, the enterpris- 
ing citizen, the lionest and charitable landlord of large 
property, the very center of a cultured coterie of friends 
and admirers, here and elsewhere ; the attached mem- 
ber of literary societies, the honored and faithful Leg- 
islator in the Assembly of his State and rising luminary 
of his profession. Seldom or never (certainly not in 
one so young) has such a sharp and heavy blow been 
received to society in this region, as that experienced 
at the sad news of his demise." The bright and manly 
qualities which brought forth this tribute, plainly in- 
dicate that the head was filled with knowledge of a 
high grade, and the heart with generous and honora- 
ble charities and affections; — ^that he possessed not only 
* Hon. Abner Hazeltine. 



THE TOWX OF ELUCOIT. 539 

the highest and choicest fruits of intelleclunl training 
and cuhure, but that the best and most ennobhng sen- 
timents of which tiic heart is capable, were among his 
richest and most lofty possessions. Errors and fail- 
ures, excepting those inseparable from human nature, 
were not among his attributes ; and it is certainly true, 
that whatever of fault might be perceived in liis char- 
acter, were largely the exaggeration of his virtues; — 
an excessive anxiety that everything he did should be 
perfect. It may be said, there were times in the great 
multiplicity of business, building and public affairs, he 
undertook too much, more than his powers of endur- 
ance would well bear, yet he accomplished them, and 
perfectly, the injur}-, if any, being to his own over 
taxed powers. The idea of thoroughness and perfec- 
tion, went with him in all the duties of life ; as much 
in the choice of a piece of furniture, m the hanging of 
a picture, the direction of a party of pleasure, in the 
reading of a book and in everything he undertook, up 
to affairs of vital importance ; each and all, tlje trivial 
as well as the important, must be as thoroughly and 
perfectly done as he was capable of accomplishing. 
His rule was, every thing must be the best of its kind. 
His father once said to us, since James' death, " I have 
often thought of a conversation I had with him when 
he was eleven or twelve years old. It made an im- 
pression on my mind that caused me to remember it ; 
he was home from school at the time. He said to me 
* Father, I have been making for myself a rule to be 
guided by all through life. It is this: — 'Whatever I 
do, to do it as 2^^>'fi''^h/ ^^ I possibly can, however 
trifling the thing to be done may be.' My rule, fallier, 
differs from that of many others in this — I include the 
little things, those that are usually considered of 



540 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

trifliiif^ importance or none at all. I think I Lave seen 
that the division line made by men between the im- 
portant and the unimportant varies almost as much as 
do the countenances of men; and some include in their 
list of trifles, things of the highest importance, if they 
expect to succeed and be honest and respected. I feel 
quite sure that if I perform little duties as thoroughlj' 
and as well as it is possible for me to do, it will aid me 
to do well things of more importance. Among the 
boys at the school I notice quite a number who do not 
get their lessons well, and they are generally consid- 
ered the bad bo3'S, and I can safely say they are the 
poor scholars. Now, if they shirk and cheat them- 
selves while acquiring their education, and get 7'usti- 
cated, wont it learn them to shirk their duty and cheat 
others when they come to be men? I do not expect to 
be perfect, but I want to be as perfect as I can. Mother 
says my rule is a good one, and that if I do one thing 
well it will learn me to do other things well, and finally 
all things well. I do believe she is right, and I intend 
constantly to use my best efforts to do whatever I un- 
dertake well and q.?^ jjerfed as I possibly can." "I read 
an article in a newspaper not long ago on high aims. 
It said that if we aim at the sun we shall shoot higher 
and further than if we aimed at some lower object. 
Now, father, 1 am. going to aim at the sun — if I do know 
I cannot hit it, I can try, and I shall accomplish all I 
expect b}'^ shooting higher and farther than I other- 
wise would do." Mr. Prendergast remarked, "I do be- 
lieve tliat Jimmy's rule was a good one — that he did 
aim at the sun ; certainl}' he did tr}^ to do to perfec- 
tion all he undertook." 

He was distinguished when a mere youth — in the 
morning of his life, by rare attainments and unblem- 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 



541 



ished integrity. He kept bis fine natural powersTin 
vigorous action by tbe motives of a generous ambition, 
wbicb never fails^o address itself to the young and 
susceptible in all seminaries of learning, and happy 
are those who make the James Prendergasts of their 
schools their models in mental cultivation and moral 
worth. It is a well ascertained fact that the great 
mass of mankind form their character on those of 
others, and are determined followers in their tracks. 
If the exemplar chosen is from among the moral, the 
intellectual and the studious, the extent of their influ- 
ence for good, even in school life, can scarcely be esti- 
mated. Thousands of eminent men are made, and 
others vviio should have been eminent, lost, even in 
our primary schools; and the real teachers of eacli have 
been fellow stiidenis— te^ /chin a by e.xuv„vple. Good as 
well as bad example is contagious; example, especially 
among the young, is as ditiusive as the vibration of 
sound in the atmosphere. It is impossible to calcu- 
late the influence of example, it enlarges the sphere -of 
human impulses, and it kindles in many bosoms aspi- 
rations after excellence by the exhibition of excellence 
in their companions. 

The influence of association and example is uni- 
versal, and is active either for good or evil, even from the 
cradle to the grave. That James Prendergast, during 
the days of Ids school life, V)y his bright and studi- 
ous example, planted in the minds of his especial associ- 
ates, not only enlightened principles and virtuous 
hal)its, but those fruit trees of mental and intellectual 
knowledge and culture, which will in those not early 
called awav, yield a noble fruitage, to bless the mem- 
ory of him\v'ho, bv bis virtuous example, planted the 
seed, we do not doubt. For it was he who awakened their 



543 THE EAELY HISTORY OF 

perceptions, keenly to the value of thorough mental 
cultivation. It was he, who in their rambles through 
the meadows and the forest, first awakened in their 
hearts a true love of nature. It was he who lectured 
them on the glory of the grass, and the splendor in the 
flowers — on the mnjestic beauty of the forests and the 
whispering voices of their leaves — of the beauty and 
music of nature in all her work; for of James Prendergast 
it may l)e truly said that he could exclaim with Akinside 

"¥;'itli what attractive charms this goodly frame 

Of nature touches the cousentiug hearts 

Of mortal mau. For him the spring 

Distills her deAvs, and from the silken gem 

Its lucid leaves unfolds ; lor him the hand 

Of Autumn tinges every fertile bronch 

With blooming gold, and blushes like the morn. 

Each ijasL-.iug hour sheds tribute from her wings : 

And still new beautier meet Lis lonely walk, 

And loves unfelt attract him. Isot a breeze 

Flies o'er the meadow, not a cloud imbibes 

The setting sun's effulgence, not a strain 

From all the tei ants of the warbling siiaae 

X cends, but whence his bosom can partak^ 

Fresh pleasures uareproved " 
James rretidei'gast's only aim \vns to seek the 
noblest purposes of his existence; and his labor was to 
prepare himself to do perfectly wiiatever duty called 
him to do. He appears to never wander for a 
moment from the path he had chosen, nor to have 
been disturbed l)y any sickly doubts of the \\orthi- 
ness of the objects ho was pursuing. His views of life 
and the part he was to take in it were cheerful and 
rational, and liis mind was filled with perpetual sun- 
shine. His conversations bear testimony to this healthy 
and happ3^ state of feeling. They were full of the in- 
spiration of fresh and generous hopes and of proper 
and modest confidence in his own powers, the bright 



THE TOVVK OF ELLICOTT. 543 

"belongings of youth — when the spirits are unbroken 
by tlie experiences of life — before disappointments and 
the repeated visitations of sorrow had taught the sad 
lessons that the results of liunian exertions always fall 
short of its aspirations. These disappointing lessons 
he did not live long enough to learn in all their sad 
reality. But he had so lived the short life that had 
been placed before him, that when suddenly called to 
leave the fairest of earthly prospects, the most lovel}^ 
and most assuring views of the future attended him 
within the shadow which divides the present from the 
future state of being. He was not unprepared to leave 
atfectionate parents, wealth, and great prospects of 
honors in a world where, every thing appeared so 
bright and alluring, and go hence to that other world 
which his faith taught him, was far superior to this. 

James Prendergast had many amiable and estim- 
able qualities which secured the attachment of manv 
friends. Generous to a lault, profuse in his liberality, 
constant in his friendships, indisposed to all forms of 
vulgarity, dissipation and prodigality, his friendsiiips 
were among those who prized a good name. He sel- 
dom failed to perceive true merit in others, and was 
always pleased to see it rewarded. He felt keenly the 
injuries do]ie him by false friends, but so loi^ig as they 
retlected upon him politically, and did not reach to his 
private ci)araete]', he suppressed liis feelings by a 
manly control, and treated the deceitful assaults with 
a manly disdain, which, had he lived longer, would 
have redounded to his greatest credit, and the placing 
of these pretended and deceitful friends in the light 
belonging to them. 

His mind was in the best sense original; he never 
arrayed himself in borrowed plumage. Free from 



544 THE EARLY IIISTOHY OF 

anything approaching to ecceniricity, he Ihonght for 
himself, and in all cases formed his own conclu- 
sions. His perceptive powers were quick, and the 
resources of his well-stored mind were rendy and 
producible whenever occasion required. Although 
he possessed a great aptitude and talent for literary 
composition, yet the intellectual exercise in whicli lie 
most delighted was conversation. This was probably 
the field in which he exhibited most fully his fine 
powers and the extent and versatility of his learning,, 
with more satisfaction to himself tlian in any other. 
And it must be confessed, that for those who are capa- 
ble of it, the pleasure of animated, intellectual conver- 
sation, is hardly inferior to the liigh excitement of 
public speaking, and very far beyond the solitary de- 
lights of the pen. 

Sincere and truth loving, he delighted in earnest 
discussion, being equally willing to learn or instruct. 
He enjoyed wit and liumor, and had a strong sense of 
the ludicrous. In all cases requiring the sifting power 
of the reasoning faculties and the decision of the judg- 
ment, he always investigated with unusual caution,, 
discussed calmly and carefully, weighed accurately,. 
and after a thorough dissection of the whole matter,, 
came to a decision ;-^and we are yet to learn the case in 
which that decision was wrong. His judgments on 
all subjects came from the best efforts of his reasoning 
powers brougiit to bear upon all the facts of the case. 
His reasoning was always fi'om cause to effect, and he 
carefully avoided all the errors which the compai-ative 
method involved. 

James Prendergast inherited one family trait in 
all its perfectness; — he was singularly free from envy 
and malice, and a disposition too frequently met with. 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 545 

to disparage or belittle the acquirements of others. It 
gave him the greatest pleasure to have one of his 
friends, or any one else, say a fine thing, or do a good 
deed which raised them in the estimation of others. 
It always delighted him to have his friends do well, 
upon all occasions and under all circumstances. 

The character of James Prendergast was remark- 
able for its symmetry, the equal development of all the 
faculties, and for complete harmony between the in- 
tellectual powers and moral feelings. The portraits of 
him give a fair idea of his features, but there is some- 
thing in the expression when the face is lit up by 
thought which no portrait can adequately give, and is 
certainly wanting in his. If we are permitted to speak 
of the personal appearance of one who has departed, we 
can tirst say that he was an unusualh^ handsome man. 
His face grew finer as he advanced in life, and his 
countenance never assumed a nobler aspect nor had 
more real beauty in it, than during the last year of his 
life. It was also eas}' to trace there marks of thought,, 
of care, and of studiousness, accompanied, we may say, 
by signs of a soul at peace with itself and mingled, 
we will not say with sadness, but certainly with pen- 
siveness, bred, perhaps, from much pondering upon the 
uncertainty of human affairs, and the serious aspects 
of this life. His frank, generous, yet somewhat pen- 
.sive countenance, limned none of those fatal lines 
which indicate craft and insincerity, greed or sensual- 
ity, but all was clear, open, pure minded and honest. 
Towards the close of his life perhaps his countenance 
grew more and more staid, earnest and thoughtful, yet 
when he smiled every lineament beamed with pleas- 



546 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

ure, and there was a pleasant sound and a heartiness 
about his laugh which will not soon be forgotten by 
those who were wont to hear it. 

In private life he was a model of every domestic 
virtue and grace. Faithful and deferential to his 
father — loving and affectionate to his mother — kind 
and unostentatious to the servants, he was the delight 
of the domestic hearth which he so much loved, and 
Adhere all, to the lowest menial loved and respected 
him. He was eminently domestic in his tastes, social 
in his feelings, averse to high conviviality, and at all 
times urbane and modest in his demeanor. His amia- 
bility was one of his most distinguishing traits. And 
among all these high, generous, noble characteristics 
of James Prendergast — high above all — was the filial 
deference and respect, love and devotion he always 
displayed for his father and his mother. 

From childhood up to the last days of his life, he 
was remarkable for the great desire he had for acquir- 
ing knowledge. His mind was avaricious of the wealth 
of intellectual acquirements, so much so that during 
his early school boy days, although he acquired 
knowledge with rapidity, the hours he was permitted 
to study were too short to meet his views. His facul- 
ties were vigorous, and he never allowed listlessness to 
creep over him so long as a book remained within his 
reach. His books were his joy and his pride; in them 
he found solace and entertainment, nutriment and in- 
struction. His literary tastes were keen and discrim- 
inating, so that he enjoyed the master pieces of hu- 
man genius with a full relish, and a nice discernment 
of their finer qualities. From boyhood up, the ad- 
-yantages offered him fully equaled his desire for 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 547 

knowledge. From first to last he had the advantages 
of the best schools and tutors in the United States, and 
no higher encomiums touching not only zeal and 
ability, but of great acquirements and noble conduct 
could be given than those accorded to him by President 
Woolsey of Yale, and by Professor Dwight of Columbia 
College. Prof. Dwight especially compliments him 
for scholarship and attainments of the highest order. 

Returning to Jamestown he founded the law firm 
of Green, Prendergast & Benedict — all of them sons of 
the early settlers. This firm was broken by his death. 

His short political career is spoken of by Coleman 
E. Bishop in Memorials as follows: "James Prender- 
gast's political career brought him onlv honor. He 
entered upon it after much deliberation ; with a full 
comprehension of the questionable means by which 
alone success is usually considered possible in public 
life, and with an equall}'- full determination to either 
succeed without resort to those means, or to honorably 
fail." He entered upon the campaign with the motto 
"Success with clean hands, or failure." In 1878 he 
was elected to the Assembly by an overwhelming ma- 
jority. " The next year he failed of a renomination 
for reasons, if it were proper here to recount them, 
would redound to his honor more highly than any 
other fact in his political career. His course in the 
Legislature was of that character to attract attention 
by its uprightness." He could neither be drove or 
bought; he failed of a re-election because he could not 
succeed with clean hands. He would not stoop to 
conquer, but proudly preserved his integrity and the 
fair name he bore. His friends viewed in this defeat 
the proudest triumph of his career. 



648 THE EAKLY HISTORY OF 

The last and noblest of a noble race, he has de- 
parted from us. 

" The night dew thai falls, though in nilence it weeps, 
Shall brighten with verdure the grave where he sleeps; 
And the tear that we shed though in secret it rolls, 
Shall keep his memory green in our souls." 
And what more appropriate epitaph to inscribe on 
the mausoleum in Lake View Cemetery, which con- 
tains his ashes — than the beautiful lines written by 
Mrs. Hemans, and inscribed on her own tomb in St 
Anns Church, Dublin. 

" Calm on the bosom of thy God, 

Fair Spirit ! rest thee now ! 
E'en while with us thy footsteps trod. 

His seal was on thy brow. 
Dust to the narrow home beneath ! 

Soul to its place on high ! 
They who have seen thy look in death, 
No more may fear to die." 



CONCLUSION. 

We have occasionally heard the statement, that 
the early settlers of the town of Ellicott, and partic- 
ularly of the A/'illage of Jamestown, were a rough, igno- 
rant and intemperate set of people. This we deny, in 
the most absolute and positive manner ; and right 
here, will show that our assertion is correct. There 
are a few truthful and well meaning people, who, 
nevertheless, seem to think that all morals, all temper- 
ance, and the largest portion of the religion in the 
country, started into existence soon after tliey became 
citizens of Jamestown; that they set the ball in motion 
that knocked over a great portion of the ignorance and 
early immorality, and intjoduced, not only the arts 
and sciences and civilized society, but the Christian 
religion, pure and undefiled, into the place. It is not 
the intention of the persons to whom we refer to mis- 
represent, but a more erroneous and mistaken idea 
could not be entertained. 

It has been our contention in this volume, that 
the early settlers of the town of Ellicott, were for the 
most part, the energetic, educated young men of the 
best families of New England and of Eastern New 
York. They were not onl}^ men of energy and perse- 



550 ■ THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

verance, but of good morals, and had enjoyed the best 
advantages the country offered for education. The 
record of their names and of their lives proves our 
assertion correct. At the time this country was set- 
tled, the sons of New England, and especially the edu- 
cated ones, were looking to Western New York and to 
the Western Reserve of Ohio, for their future homes. 
Knowing that these then wilderness countries possessed 
a soil far superior to that on which their fathers lived, 
and that emigration must soon people them with a 
large and industrious population, they emigrated to, 
and commenced life in these wildernesses. They 
came first; and by herculean efforts established the 
church, the school house and the prniting press, 
before the less energetic, the less worthy andless 
educated had in numbers, left the places of their 
birth, to seek new homes in the El Dorado of the west. 
When they came, they found communities and laws to 
restrain them, and wiiich have continued to restrain 
them ever since. These early settlers, for the most 
part, came west in small and select companies ; each to 
some especial locality, and their friends and relatives 
followed, and to the same localities. The first settlers 
at the rapids were largely from Wardsboro, Windham 
Co., Vt., and from Rensselaer Co. in this state. 

We take Jamestown, instead of the town of Elli- 
cott, as the field of our investigation;— time, the year 
1822. We have divided the then inhabitants into 
three classes. (1) The moral and educated; (2) the 
moral; and (3) the immoral. For the first class we 
write down the following names: James Prendergast, 
Horatio Dix, Wm. Forbes, Solomon Jones, Ellick 
Jones, N. Dolloff, Laban, Abner,and Daniel Hazeltme, 
Silas and Jehial Tiffany, E. T. Foote, Sam'l. A. Brown, 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 551 

Thos. W. and C. R. Harvey, Wm. Hall, Wm. and John 
C. Breed, Silas Shearman, William Knight, Royal and 
Eber Keyes, Harmis Willard, Joseph Waite, Samuel 
Barrett, Wilfred Barker, Phineas Stevens, Salmon 
Grout, Rufus Pier, Elmer Freeman, Jesse Smith, Hor- 
ace Allen, Scott Sayles, Hiram Kinney, R. F. Fenton, 
N. W. Harrington, Samuel B. Winsor, Jacob and Wm. 
H. Fenton, Phineas Palmiter, Darius Dexter, Ezbai 
Kidder, J. E. Budlong, Sheldon Smith, Edward Work. 
For class twu we record seven names ; for class three 
we record five names; these not including sawyers on 
the mills, whose names w^e cannot remember ; mostly 
transient men. A number of men whose names we 
do remember, workers on the mills, should be placed 
in class two. In truth Old Argue, whom we have 
placed at the head of class three, and poor John Blow- 
ers, would be rather lonesome, if we did not bring a few 
Justices and farmers from out of town, and a good file 
of sawyers and raftmen and boatmen to make a re- 
spectable company — /w numhers* 

The conveniences in those early days for being 
moral and religious were not extensive or first class, 
but such as they had were well patronized. At least 
two-thirds of the people of Jamestown, on Sunday, 
both in the forenoon and in the afternoon, went regu- 
larly to the Old Academy to hear either Abner Hazel- 
tine, Thomas W. Harvey, or Samuel A. Brown read a 
sermon, selected from the National Preacher, hear the 
Harveys, Jessie Smith, Harmis Willard, the f Jones 
girls and the Dix girls and others, sing, and listen 
to Deacon Deland's long prayers. The idea that 
there was neither morals or religion in Jamestown 

* Seepages 51, 217, 222. 

f Daughters of Solomon Jonea aud Horatio Dix. 



553 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

until some ten years after, is not true. In fact, there 
was more of each, according to numbers, than at any 
period since ; and it was the genuine old orthodox 
sort, too ! In those primitive days, boys had to stay 
in doors from Saturday night until Monday morning, 
and road their testaments or a tract; tliey had no story 
Sunday School books in those daj^s. We well remem- 
ber two tracts that came nearest to it, — " The Dairy- 
man's Daughter," and the " Shepherd of Salisbury 
Plain," and they were literally worn out by constant 
reading. It was hard work for boys to be good in 
those times; Sunda}^ was a long, tedious day. Even 
in driving the cows to pasture on Sunday morn- 
ing, the precise time necessary in which to go and 
come was given, and if the time was exceeded a flog- 
ging might be expected on Monday morning — it was 
considered too much like work to undertake to flog a 
stout, lusty Rtpids boy on Sunday. Those who say 
the /"aMens- did not keep Sunday are mistaken. The 
period of which we speak is within our own remem- 
brance, and we k/unc. 

We felt that we could not conclude this volume 
without correcting this gross slander on the good name 
of our fathers. If the sons were one-half as moral and 
good as they were, Jamestown would be a far better 
place to-day than it is. Nobler men never settled a 
new country than those who subdued the wilderness at 
the rapids, and laid the foundations of all the bless- 
ings, social, civil and religious, which we, their cliild- 
ren and successors, enjoy. 



Oar allotted task is finished — our . wanderings 
through the few streets of Jamestown, and along the 
few crooked, muddy roads leading therefrom, in the 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 553 

long ago, have come to an end. We have enjoyed 
many of our visits with the busy men who were once 
the active inhabitants, but who died long ago, and are 
now ahnost forgotten. Our greatest regret is, that we 
could not use two or three hundred more pages in the 
fulfillment of our task — we could have drawn our 
pictures clearer and plainer — but this was not to be 
thought of. This volume is already twice as large as 
our friends expected it would be, and forbade the fur- 
ther extension. We have labored to make the " Early 
History of the Town of Ellicott" — which many friends 
said it was our duty to write — and of which, for the 
most part, there was no record, worthy of their ac- 
ceptance. We believe that what we have written is 
truthful, and our greatest desire and care has been to 
make it so. We hope the method we have pursued in 
accomplishing our labor will not meet the disapproba- 
tion of those who so urgently urged us to undertake a 
task, which at the time was so repugnant to our feel- 
ings. We have mingled our remembrances of persons 
with anecdotes and happenings connected with them 
— the laughable with the sorrowful, the trifling and 
the vain, with serious reflections on the past and on 
the future; — a salmagundi; — perhaps an ullapodrida; 
from which the fastidious modern reader may select 
morsels agreeable to his peculiar taste, and reject those 
not suited to his delicate digestion. 

For a year we have lived in the past. Daily we 
have walked the streets of Jamestown as they were 
sixty years ago, and before. We have daily met thereon 
our fathers, and have followed them into their various 
places of business, and at times found them, so busily 
engaged with the affairs of time and earthly pursuits, 
that thev could not give us a few moments in which 



554 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

to talk over the affairs of the town,and the latest news 
from those then, far off localities, Chadwick's Bay, 
(Dunkirk) Pomfret Four Corners, (Fredonia) and the 
Cross Roads, (Westfield), and the last news from Buf- 
falo about Clinton's ditch. Most truly we have lived 
in the long ago, in the which there were no grades or 
divisions in society — in the which the rich and the 
poor, the high and the low, lived together and associ- 
ated as equals ; — in the which there were no locks on 
the doors, neither was it necessary, for it was rare that 
any overt act was committed. Those days prepared 
for the present. But the living of those early days 
over again has not been an altogether disagreeable 
task. The most disagreeable part has been that those 
good old times can never again return, and it has led 
us to pass our own life in review, to live our own life 
over again, and to mark its errors. Solemn and sad 
at times has been the retrospect. As we have passed 
along through the years that are back of us, full of 
voices eloquent and pathetic; we have stood over 
the grave of many an early dream. We have eaten 
and slept with disappointment. We have watched by 
the couch of many a hope and seen it fail and die. 
We have buried many a bright expectation, and laid 
the memorial wreath over many a joy. Withered 
garlands, broken rings, broken vases, once filled with 
flowers, on every side have strewn the pathway. 

By a wearying, unwelcome effort we have called 
back from the musty caves of memory, friends who 
passed away years ago. We remembered them as 
active and prominent in the affairs of life ; suffering 
its griefs, enjoying its pleasures ; and we mourned 
when they were called away. At times it has been a 
disagreeable labor for us to recall them, as graven on 



THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT. 



55g 



the memory, and sit down with them for one short 
hour and retrace those pleasant times now— ^we / 
We hurry through our task, dismiss the shadows 
from our thoughts, and close the book of memory 

against them. 

And thus it has been generation after generation 
for thousands of years. Each had their day of active 
life, their cups filled to the brim with the world's 
pleasures and its pains; they passed away hke the 
vapor, while the world wore the same aspect of beauty 
as now, and has worn during all the ages of earth's 
human occupancy. 

The heavens will be as bright over our graves, as 
now around our pathways ; the world will offer the 
same bright attractions for those now unborn as it has 
for us. In a much shorter time than that we have 
been reviewing, all of this will have happened ; to 
many of us even the coming year will have wrought 
the great change which releases from all earthly 
affairs. The throbbing heart will have been stilled 
and at rest, the funeral train will have passed by, 
and the tearful mourners again busy on the streets. 
For a short time they will think of us, and occasion- 
ally speak of us, but the affairs of life will creep in, 
and speedily we will be forgotten. An occasional, 
momentary remembrance is quickly thrust from the 
mind— as an unwelcome intruder— and ere long all 
thought of us will have passed away forever. Days 
will continue to move on, and laughter and song will 
be heard in the rooms where we died; the streets will 
continue to be filled with busy men, the assemblages 
of the joyful and the pleasure seeking as large as they 
are now. It always has been, as it always will con- 
tinue to be, the fate of the living, to die and of the 



556 THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

dead to he forgotten. Thus, most feelingly does Henry 
Kirke White sing to us of this passing away : 

" Yes, 'twill be over soon. This sickly dream 

Of life will banish from my feverish brain ; 
And death my wearied spirit will redeem 

From this wild region of unvaried pain. 
Yon brook will glide as softly as before, — 

Yon landscape smile, — yon golden harvests grow, — 
Yon sprightly lark on mounting wing will soar 

W^hen Henry's name is heard no more below. 
***** 

God of the just, — thou gavest the bitter cup ; 
I bow to thy behest, and drink it up." 

THE END. 



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